Nibali is saying he's racing Flanders this year. If he actually does, can we finally convince Alejandro to race it next year? He keeps saying he's going to race it and then pulls out of it.
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Very good opening races for Valverde on Mallorca, super promising stuff. Turns out he told the truth about his level, he seems to be his normal self. Wellens and Moscon said he was the strongest on the climbs in Tramuntana and thinking about it, it was kinda predictable he would lose 2 hungry riders wheels in his first race back on wet descents. Completely understandable IMO, he will probably never be as confident in rain again or on descents, but he doesn't need to be the dominant Valverde we know.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
Re:
Agreed. He's back and he and his friends were telling us the truth that he's back to his old self. I think we just didn't want to get our hopes up before we actually saw it for ourselves. I also agree he will never be as confident in the rain again. However, I do think he'll be fine on dry descents as his crash was in the wet. But he needs some time to get that confidence back. He has time. Yes he doesn't have to be the dominant Valverde we're used to. He's back and having fun and we must appreciate that and enjoy how ever many years he has left.
Valencia shall be another good test to see where he's at in a stage race. I'm guessing due to the ITT he'll have Sütterlin and Oliveria there as they are the TT specialists still at Movistar. With what he showed at Mallorca he has a very good shot at winning overall at Valencia.
Carols, You're welcome.
One small note: Just read an article. He said he is considering attempting Flanders this year, but he's not making any decision on Flanders until deeper into the season to see where he's at. His big goal is to his first peak of the season for the Ardennes.
Valv.Piti said:Very good opening races for Valverde on Mallorca, super promising stuff. Turns out he told the truth about his level, he seems to be his normal self. Wellens and Moscon said he was the strongest on the climbs in Tramuntana and thinking about it, it was kinda predictable he would lose 2 hungry riders wheels in his first race back on wet descents. Completely understandable IMO, he will probably never be as confident in rain again or on descents, but he doesn't need to be the dominant Valverde we know.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
Agreed. He's back and he and his friends were telling us the truth that he's back to his old self. I think we just didn't want to get our hopes up before we actually saw it for ourselves. I also agree he will never be as confident in the rain again. However, I do think he'll be fine on dry descents as his crash was in the wet. But he needs some time to get that confidence back. He has time. Yes he doesn't have to be the dominant Valverde we're used to. He's back and having fun and we must appreciate that and enjoy how ever many years he has left.
Valencia shall be another good test to see where he's at in a stage race. I'm guessing due to the ITT he'll have Sütterlin and Oliveria there as they are the TT specialists still at Movistar. With what he showed at Mallorca he has a very good shot at winning overall at Valencia.
Carols, You're welcome.
One small note: Just read an article. He said he is considering attempting Flanders this year, but he's not making any decision on Flanders until deeper into the season to see where he's at. His big goal is to his first peak of the season for the Ardennes.
I actually meant that he didn't need to be great on descents in order to be the dominating Valverde that we know. But yeah, he doesn't need to be that either, at some point he won't be, but I hope its not this year. Or even next year. I want as much Valverde as possible on the biggest stage, winning the big races. Valverde can't get enough of that and I can't either
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so valverde will be winning until 2917Valv.Piti said:Very good opening races for Valverde on Mallorca, super promising stuff. Turns out he told the truth about his level, he seems to be his normal self. Wellens and Moscon said he was the strongest on the climbs in Tramuntana and thinking about it, it was kinda predictable he would lose 2 hungry riders wheels in his first race back on wet descents. Completely understandable IMO, he will probably never be as confident in rain again or on descents, but he doesn't need to be the dominant Valverde we know.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
Re:
Actually you're right. He doesn't have to be. Before the injury he was one of the best descenders in the peloton. He doesn't have to be that to still dominate many of the races he's dominated in the past. Yes at some point he will start to slow down and start showing "athletic decay" which he has not shown, and signs point to not yet showing it this year either. Truthfully I don't expect to see it or see much of it for a couple more years. I agree with you, I also want to see as much Valverde on the biggest stages winning as many of the biggest races as he can. Yes he can't get enough of it, which is why I expect him to sign at least one maybe two more contracts after his current one. You, me and the rest of his fans will never get enough of it either.
Valv.Piti said:I actually meant that he didn't need to be great on descents in order to be the dominating Valverde that we know. But yeah, he doesn't need to be that either, at some point he won't be, but I hope its not this year. Or even next year. I want as much Valverde as possible on the biggest stage, winning the big races. Valverde can't get enough of that and I can't either
Actually you're right. He doesn't have to be. Before the injury he was one of the best descenders in the peloton. He doesn't have to be that to still dominate many of the races he's dominated in the past. Yes at some point he will start to slow down and start showing "athletic decay" which he has not shown, and signs point to not yet showing it this year either. Truthfully I don't expect to see it or see much of it for a couple more years. I agree with you, I also want to see as much Valverde on the biggest stages winning as many of the biggest races as he can. Yes he can't get enough of it, which is why I expect him to sign at least one maybe two more contracts after his current one. You, me and the rest of his fans will never get enough of it either.
Valverde, Amador, Rojas, Carretero, Arcas, Bico and Rosón. Not the best team for a TTT (only 23 km, previously it was 30 km). Amador, Rojas and obviously Valverde are very solid in this discipline, but I don't really know about the rest. Bico should be fine I guess, Arcas is a rouleur as well, Carretero is actually a pretty good time trialist and Rosón is a pure climber, so he will not be of much use. All in all it looks fine and Valverde shouldn't lose that much time.
I'm going to guess that might be why they were doing some TTT practice before Mallorca? Movistar posted some pictures of TTT practice on their twitter account a day or two before Mallorca started, so I guess this could be part of the reason. It seems most of the guys going to Valencia were at Mallorca.
I agree it should be a solid team and Valverde shouldn't loose much time.
I agree it should be a solid team and Valverde shouldn't loose much time.
According to an article here on this site Valverde is supposed to be racing both Abu Dhabi AND Vuelta a Andalucia. Now I hope to find confirmation of this in a Spanish article.
Poels will properly win Valencia again, even if Bala wins the queen stage.
Valverde doesn't have a strong enough team for the TT. They are going to lose 15-35 secs to Sky.
Valverde doesn't have a strong enough team for the TT. They are going to lose 15-35 secs to Sky.
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Valverde could easily gain that amount of time if he is better than Poels. He doesn't need to be significantly better, that amount of time really isn't that much if you are going strong.WheelofGear said:
Re: Re:
If Poels has the leader's jersey after the TTT, Valverde is not going to drop him by 30 secs. Only Quintana can do that.
There need to be bonus seconds for him to be the favorite and he needs to win stage 2 as well.
Valv.Piti said:
If Poels has the leader's jersey after the TTT, Valverde is not going to drop him by 30 secs. Only Quintana can do that.
There need to be bonus seconds for him to be the favorite and he needs to win stage 2 as well.
Re: Re:
This is Poels we are talking about. He could be undroppable by anyone or he could be in the groupetto.
WheelofGear said:
This is Poels we are talking about. He could be undroppable by anyone or he could be in the groupetto.
Under normal circumstances it wouldn't, but you are also stating the maximum of seconds you believed Sky would be able to gain. And Zinoviev's point about re Poels is exactly how I feel about him.
Valverde ahead of Vuelta a Valenciana. Aight, let me try and translate this (very loosely I fear). Lets see how well my sparse Spanish holds up, google translate might be better, but this is more fun
La verdad es que el debut en Mallorca fue muy bueno. El primer día estaba nervioso. No era el nerviosismo de otros años antes de la primera carrera; era diferente y quien haya pasado por una situación similar a la mía lo podrá entender. Pero los dos días siguientes fueron duros, con frío, lluvia, carreteras peligrosas… Vamos, un examen en toda regla para la rodilla, para mi confianza, para todo… Y me vi de los más fuertes en la subida. No quise tomar más riesgos en las bajadas y por eso no pude disputar los triunfos, pero lo más importante fue tener esas sensaciones.
The truth is that the debut at Mallorca went very well. I was very nervous the first day - it wasn't the nervousness from previous years in the first race, it was different (and something about a similar situation that I can't fully understand). But the days after were very hard, with the cold, rain, hard crashes (?). It was an exam for my whole body, for my confidence, for everything.. I couldn't win, but the most important was that I had great sensations.
Son ya cinco días de competición, con una contrarreloj a mitad de carrera… Vamos a dar lo máximo porque estamos bien de forma, pero sin obsesionarnos con la general. Los rivales no creo que estén más fuertes de lo que demostraron Wellens o Moscon en Mallorca, pero sí que serán más en cantidad. Si allí se quedaban tres o cuatro cuando se seleccionaba la carrera, aquí ese grupo será de diez o quince unidades.
Its already 5 with of competition, with a TTT.. We will give our maximum, but we aren't obsessed with the GC. The rivals don't know that I demonstrated that I was stronger than Wellens and Moscon (?) at Mallorca. It is the 3rd or 4th time he has riden the race.
Creo que la contrarreloj por equipos puede marcar la carrera. Hemos visto el recorrido y hemos rodado en él y me ha parecido peligroso, sobre todo en la segunda mitad, con mucha curva y contracurva, aunque ya sabemos que es igual para todos. Nosotros tenemos un gran equipo, pero quizás hay bloques como Sky o BMC que parten con ventaja para la general porque van muy rápido en la crono y luego tienen gente que puede aguantar la llegada del sábado. El final de Las Canteras es duro y me gusta, pero no creo que marque grandes diferencias. Espero estar disputando esa etapa.
I believe that the TTT will mark the race. We have seen the route and we have ridden on it and it seems dangerous with many curves and contra-curves, despite that we already know that it is the same for everyone. We have a great team, but there are also teams like Sky and BMC who participate with aim of the GC because they are going really fast in the TTT. The final at Les Canteras (I assume its the MTF) is very hard and I like it, but I don't think it will make big difference. We will take it stage by stage. (?)
El cariño de la gente ha sido muy especial en todo este tiempo. Estoy muy agradecido a todo el público que se volcó conmigo en Mallorca y a toda la afición en general, que me sigue apoyando allá por donde voy. Quiero darles las gracias a todos y que sepan que por mi parte voy a seguir luchando y trabajando igual que antes de la lesión.
The love (?) from the people has been very special in all this time. I am grateful for everyone who has cheered for me at Mallorca and the whole affinity in general, all those that continue to help me wherever I go. I wish to give those a thank to everyone and I will continue fighting and working as I always has.
La verdad es que el debut en Mallorca fue muy bueno. El primer día estaba nervioso. No era el nerviosismo de otros años antes de la primera carrera; era diferente y quien haya pasado por una situación similar a la mía lo podrá entender. Pero los dos días siguientes fueron duros, con frío, lluvia, carreteras peligrosas… Vamos, un examen en toda regla para la rodilla, para mi confianza, para todo… Y me vi de los más fuertes en la subida. No quise tomar más riesgos en las bajadas y por eso no pude disputar los triunfos, pero lo más importante fue tener esas sensaciones.
The truth is that the debut at Mallorca went very well. I was very nervous the first day - it wasn't the nervousness from previous years in the first race, it was different (and something about a similar situation that I can't fully understand). But the days after were very hard, with the cold, rain, hard crashes (?). It was an exam for my whole body, for my confidence, for everything.. I couldn't win, but the most important was that I had great sensations.
Son ya cinco días de competición, con una contrarreloj a mitad de carrera… Vamos a dar lo máximo porque estamos bien de forma, pero sin obsesionarnos con la general. Los rivales no creo que estén más fuertes de lo que demostraron Wellens o Moscon en Mallorca, pero sí que serán más en cantidad. Si allí se quedaban tres o cuatro cuando se seleccionaba la carrera, aquí ese grupo será de diez o quince unidades.
Its already 5 with of competition, with a TTT.. We will give our maximum, but we aren't obsessed with the GC. The rivals don't know that I demonstrated that I was stronger than Wellens and Moscon (?) at Mallorca. It is the 3rd or 4th time he has riden the race.
Creo que la contrarreloj por equipos puede marcar la carrera. Hemos visto el recorrido y hemos rodado en él y me ha parecido peligroso, sobre todo en la segunda mitad, con mucha curva y contracurva, aunque ya sabemos que es igual para todos. Nosotros tenemos un gran equipo, pero quizás hay bloques como Sky o BMC que parten con ventaja para la general porque van muy rápido en la crono y luego tienen gente que puede aguantar la llegada del sábado. El final de Las Canteras es duro y me gusta, pero no creo que marque grandes diferencias. Espero estar disputando esa etapa.
I believe that the TTT will mark the race. We have seen the route and we have ridden on it and it seems dangerous with many curves and contra-curves, despite that we already know that it is the same for everyone. We have a great team, but there are also teams like Sky and BMC who participate with aim of the GC because they are going really fast in the TTT. The final at Les Canteras (I assume its the MTF) is very hard and I like it, but I don't think it will make big difference. We will take it stage by stage. (?)
El cariño de la gente ha sido muy especial en todo este tiempo. Estoy muy agradecido a todo el público que se volcó conmigo en Mallorca y a toda la afición en general, que me sigue apoyando allá por donde voy. Quiero darles las gracias a todos y que sepan que por mi parte voy a seguir luchando y trabajando igual que antes de la lesión.
The love (?) from the people has been very special in all this time. I am grateful for everyone who has cheered for me at Mallorca and the whole affinity in general, all those that continue to help me wherever I go. I wish to give those a thank to everyone and I will continue fighting and working as I always has.
Valv.Piti said:Valverde ahead of Vuelta a Valenciana. Aight, let me try and translate this (very loosely I fear). Lets see how well my sparse Spanish holds up, google translate might be better, but this is more fun
La verdad es que el debut en Mallorca fue muy bueno. El primer día estaba nervioso. No era el nerviosismo de otros años antes de la primera carrera; era diferente y quien haya pasado por una situación similar a la mía lo podrá entender. Pero los dos días siguientes fueron duros, con frío, lluvia, carreteras peligrosas… Vamos, un examen en toda regla para la rodilla, para mi confianza, para todo… Y me vi de los más fuertes en la subida. No quise tomar más riesgos en las bajadas y por eso no pude disputar los triunfos, pero lo más importante fue tener esas sensaciones.
The truth is that the debut at Mallorca went very well. I was very nervous the first day - it wasn't the nervousness from previous years in the first race, it was different and whomever has been in a similar situation might understand. But the days after were very hard, with the cold, rain, dangerous roads. It was an exam in every aspect; for my knee, for my confidence, for everything.., And I saw myself between the strongest on the hill. I didn't want to take many risks on the descents and that's why I couldn't win, but the most important was that I had great sensations.
Son ya cinco días de competición, con una contrarreloj a mitad de carrera… Vamos a dar lo máximo porque estamos bien de forma, pero sin obsesionarnos con la general. Los rivales no creo que estén más fuertes de lo que demostraron Wellens o Moscon en Mallorca, pero sí que serán más en cantidad. Si allí se quedaban tres o cuatro cuando se seleccionaba la carrera, aquí ese grupo será de diez o quince unidades.
Its already 5 with of competition, with a TTT.. We will give our maximum because we are in good form, but we aren't obsessed with the GC. I don't think that the rivals will be stronger than Wellens and Moscon in Mallorca, but there will be more of them. If back then we were three or four when the decisive splits occurred, here this group will be of ten to fifteen riders.
Creo que la contrarreloj por equipos puede marcar la carrera. Hemos visto el recorrido y hemos rodado en él y me ha parecido peligroso, sobre todo en la segunda mitad, con mucha curva y contracurva, aunque ya sabemos que es igual para todos. Nosotros tenemos un gran equipo, pero quizás hay bloques como Sky o BMC que parten con ventaja para la general porque van muy rápido en la crono y luego tienen gente que puede aguantar la llegada del sábado. El final de Las Canteras es duro y me gusta, pero no creo que marque grandes diferencias. Espero estar disputando esa etapa.
I believe that the TTT will mark the race. We have seen the route and we have ridden on it and it seems dangerous with many curves and contra-curves, despite that we already know that it is the same for everyone. We have a great team, but there are also teams like Sky and BMC who have an advantage regarding GC bevause they will be very fast on the TTT and have riders who can be competitive on the finish come Saturday,. The final at Les Canteras (I assume its the MTF) is hard and I like it, but I don't think it will make big difference. I hope to be fighting for the win on that stage.
El cariño de la gente ha sido muy especial en todo este tiempo. Estoy muy agradecido a todo el público que se volcó conmigo en Mallorca y a toda la afición en general, que me sigue apoyando allá por donde voy. Quiero darles las gracias a todos y que sepan que por mi parte voy a seguir luchando y trabajando igual que antes de la lesión.
The love from the people has been very special in all this time. I am grateful for everyone who has cheered for me at Mallorca and the whole affinity in general, all those that continue to help me wherever I go. I wish to give those a thank to everyone and I will continue fighting and working as I always has.
And now Amador is out of the race because he will become a father tonight. This definitely rules out any chance of GC victory for Valverde.
Here's a link to the English translation on Movistar's website. http://movistarteam.com/en/2018-01-30/interview-valverde-volta-comunitat-valenciana-preview
Although it may be a slightly different interview than the one you posted.
When you get Alejandro's biography you'll definitely be able to read it at LOT easier than I am.
Amador being out really hurts any GC chance.
Although it may be a slightly different interview than the one you posted.
When you get Alejandro's biography you'll definitely be able to read it at LOT easier than I am.
Amador being out really hurts any GC chance.
Sutterlin is subbed in instead of Amador, so thats not to bad. Interesting to see what will happen tomorrow!
Movistar replaced Amador with Sütterlin for so that should mitigate any issues with the TTT since Sütterlin is a TT specialist.
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If the group of 5-6 riders emerge on that last climb, which is not impossible at all, they have a decent chance... My guess is Valverde will be in such group
Valv.Piti said:
If the group of 5-6 riders emerge on that last climb, which is not impossible at all, they have a decent chance... My guess is Valverde will be in such group
Really nice win today, He's Back! He attacked with 34km to go and took it to the line with Lulu and Birdsong, easily winning the sprint.
Tomorrow he'll lose time in the TTT but could still win the GC with a good ride on the MTF.
Even if he doesn't win he GC, getting his first victory after that horrible accident is a Huge Success!
Tomorrow he'll lose time in the TTT but could still win the GC with a good ride on the MTF.
Even if he doesn't win he GC, getting his first victory after that horrible accident is a Huge Success!
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