Teams & Riders He's coming home!!!! Alejandro Valverde comeback thread.

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

I'd love to be a teammate of Valverde's, the guy isn't greedy and he just is such a chill person.

I can't really accept that he isn't greedy - nobody gets anything like his palmares without a nearly psychotic desire to win. But it is true that I've very rarely heard an ex-teammate complain about his personality, about him being overbearing or nasty or unpleasant. He seems like one of the more personally relaxed and affable of the big winners.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I'd love to be a teammate of Valverde's, the guy isn't greedy and he just is such a chill person.

I can't really accept that he isn't greedy - nobody gets anything like his palmares without a nearly psychotic desire to win. But it is true that I've very rarely heard an ex-teammate complain about his personality, about him being overbearing or nasty or unpleasant. He seems like one of the more personally relaxed and affable of the big winners.

Isn't greedy as in he has no problem letting an inferior teammate win when he easily could have won himself. Relatively consistently - but I get what you are saying.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

I'd love to be a teammate of Valverde's, the guy isn't greedy and he just is such a chill person.

I can't really accept that he isn't greedy - nobody gets anything like his palmares without a nearly psychotic desire to win. But it is true that I've very rarely heard an ex-teammate complain about his personality, about him being overbearing or nasty or unpleasant. He seems like one of the more personally relaxed and affable of the big winners.

Isn't greedy as in he has no problem letting an inferior teammate win when he easily could have won himself. Relatively consistently - but I get what you are saying.

If you qualified to enter the Spanish Nationals you could be awarded the win one of these years

 

[Katabatic]

Knows he "will" finish ahead of Contador if he reaches his usual level? No, you can't make that statement. Valverde hasn't shown his usual level is definitely stronger than Contador's at GCs. It's true he doesn't have to mark Contador as closely anymore because Contador is no longer one of the top 3 or so GC guys, but saying his usual level is clearly higher than Contador's in 3 week GCs is too presumptuous.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Knows he "will" finish ahead of Contador if he reaches his usual level? No, you can't make that statement. Valverde hasn't shown his usual level is definitely stronger than Contador's at GCs. It's true he doesn't have to mark Contador as closely anymore because Contador is no longer one of the top 3 or so GC guys, but saying his usual level is clearly higher than Contador's in 3 week GCs is too presumptuous.

+1

 

[Valv.Piti]

He seems happy, without pressure and very loyal to Quintana. But its pretty simply, if he is stronger than Quintana, he will obviously have his own chances and he will be up there regardless (if Quintana is in very good shape), maybe animating the race, particularly thinking of stage 9. I am pretty confident he will be one of the best GC-riders in the time trial and then have decent chances of a yellow on stage 3...

 

[bajbar]

I expect a good TT from him tomorow. And then a good performance (at least a top 5) on stage 3. Him, Matthews or Roglič will be in yellow after stage 3 I guess.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, and you can probably add Sagan and T. Martin to that list as well. Heck, maybe even Porte/Froome.

 

[portugal11]

I think matthews will be in yellow. He is top5 in the world in short time trials. Stage 3 is really made for him (and sagan).

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re:

I think matthews will be in yellow. He is top5 in the world in short time trials. Stage 3 is really made for him (and sagan).

PhilGil and GVA too. Heck of a battle on stage 3.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I think matthews will be in yellow. He is top5 in the world in short time trials. Stage 3 is really made for him (and sagan).

PhilGil and GVA too. Heck of a battle on stage 3.

But phil and greg are very average in time trials

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

I think matthews will be in yellow. He is top5 in the world in short time trials. Stage 3 is really made for him (and sagan).

PhilGil and GVA too. Heck of a battle on stage 3.

But phil and greg are very average in time trials

They may not have a shot at yellow, but they will be in the mix for the stage I think, possibly taking those bonus seconds away. Stage 2 bonus secs "could" play into it as well

 

[Valv.Piti]

Alejandro Valverde Belmonte, you are the best rider in the world, make me happy and win this stupid race.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Alejandro Valverde Belmonte, you are the best rider in the world, make me happy and win this stupid race.

The best rider in the world doesn't win stupid races

 

[Netserk]

Should probably have practiced his bike-handling on his TT-bike a bit more. I guess he was too desperate to take time today and risked way too much.

 

[Billie]

Vuelta + lombardia are his

 

[lartiste]

but still it is also mistake of organizers not to put foam there .... as it was in other corners ....

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Look out Vuelta

 

[Billie]

Re:

Should probably have practiced his bike-handling on his TT-bike a bit more. I guess he was too desperate to take time today and risked way too much.

he is one of the best steerer in the world on a tt bike.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Already left in an ambulance.
Possible broken shoulder. Supposedly no leg injuries.

edit: now several journalists mentioning left leg injuries on twitter

 

[Arredondo]

Look out Vuelta? Lets hope he doesn't have any serious injuries! Could be game over at his age

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Look out Vuelta? Lets hope he doesn't have any serious injuries! Could be game over at his age

Let's hope not but it's quite possible as you say.

 

[Netserk]

If he is as good a rider as Contador, he should still be able to win the Vuelta.

 

[Strange Loop]

Re:

If he is as good a rider as Contador, he should still be able to win the Vuelta.

Let's wait until we know what the exact injury is. If it's indeed a broken leg, as is rumored now, then he'll not be back in time, if ever.

 

[lenric]

Re:

If he is as good a rider as Contador, he should still be able to win the Vuelta.