Re: Re:
He attempted to animate the race more than once and finished just outside the top ten in his first attempt at this event and you call that struggling? He was praised by at least one of his competitors so what did you see that they did not?
Flamin said:Valv.Piti said:Flanders is my favourite race and I legitimately think he could do well and top-10. Races are generally also more entertaining when your favourite rider takes part, unless he snaps his collarbone!joe_papp said:This is not a dig, but what was the attraction of the possibility of Valverde riding Flanders? Just the novelty of it? Do you think he really could've contended for a podium there, or would top-10 have been a more plausible goal? If he struggled to even manage to eat during Wednesday's race, does that mean he was at the limit of his skills/fitness/concentration/blah,blah and would've had an even harder time at Flanders if the weather was same or worse?Valv.Piti said:Yeah, him not competing in Flanders is a huge downer. I really looked forward to it - oh well, maybe next year...
All speculation, I know, but I can't say I'm heartbroken he won't ride it. I mean, I know he's not fragile, but...idk
But yeah, there's something about the novelty also. Its a good story and I also think it could silence some hater had he done well.
If he'd better prepared for it, then he could, but not this year. I think he struggled hard in Dwars and that's why he decided to skip de Ronde.
He attempted to animate the race more than once and finished just outside the top ten in his first attempt at this event and you call that struggling? He was praised by at least one of his competitors so what did you see that they did not?