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It was never going to be on Monte Oiz, that Valverde lost the Vuelta, anyways.
Still waiting to see how he fares on the Andorra stage. That's where the distance and altitude of the climbs might take its toll on him
Still waiting to see how he fares on the Andorra stage. That's where the distance and altitude of the climbs might take its toll on him
Going for the bonus sprints now? 
There is one at the buttom of stage 19's MTF and one in the Andorra stage. Even the sprint bonuses in the two remaining sprinter stages could be up for some action.
There is one at the buttom of stage 19's MTF and one in the Andorra stage. Even the sprint bonuses in the two remaining sprinter stages could be up for some action.
What a great position for Valverde to be in. Yates is probably 50-50 to crack. Obviously not as much as in the Giro, but enough to lose 1+ minute. And Valverde has a significant buffer down to 3rd place.
Difficult decision though whether or not to ride conservatively in the next couple of days, leaving everything for stage 20, or to try to chip away a bit at Yates's advantage, but risk pushing it too hard.
Difficult decision though whether or not to ride conservatively in the next couple of days, leaving everything for stage 20, or to try to chip away a bit at Yates's advantage, but risk pushing it too hard.
So... by the look of his the 2012 TdF was his "bad" year GT-wise (not counting years he DNFed); finishing all the way down on a 20th place.
Re:
Why not. At this point he may as well mix it up with the sprinters on stage 21 as well.
Velolover2 said:Valverde to mix it with the sprinters on stage 18?
Why not. At this point he may as well mix it up with the sprinters on stage 21 as well.
Re:
Like almost every other GC contender for that Tour, he suffered some nasty injuries in a week 1 crash. I wouldn't read much into that gc placing
That was the most boring Tour I've ever watched and it takes some beating. Half the GC contenders didn't start because of injury or suspension, and of the other half every one crashed hard in week 1 except for the podium 3.
RedheadDane said:
Like almost every other GC contender for that Tour, he suffered some nasty injuries in a week 1 crash. I wouldn't read much into that gc placing
That was the most boring Tour I've ever watched and it takes some beating. Half the GC contenders didn't start because of injury or suspension, and of the other half every one crashed hard in week 1 except for the podium 3.
Re: Re:
I'd also add that was his first GT in over 2 years. His next worst GT was this year's Tour which was his first GT after a year without one. His 3rd worst GT was the 2016 Vuelta which was his 3rd GT in one season and 5th in a row.
GuyIncognito said:
I'd also add that was his first GT in over 2 years. His next worst GT was this year's Tour which was his first GT after a year without one. His 3rd worst GT was the 2016 Vuelta which was his 3rd GT in one season and 5th in a row.
Rolf Sørensen still not believing what he sees and has an incredibly hard time admitting he is a bit of a douche and not much of an analyst.
Libertine Seguros hates to love Valverde, I love to love him.
Incredible performance today. Nairo Quintana better help Valverde 100% or I am going to raaaaaaaage. And where it Dekker Tifosi at?
Libertine Seguros hates to love Valverde, I love to love him.
Incredible performance today. Nairo Quintana better help Valverde 100% or I am going to raaaaaaaage. And where it Dekker Tifosi at?
Re:
His team needs to push hard in both Andorra stages, him personally all out in stage 20, and in stage 19 if he smells any weakness from Yates. If not then try to get some bonuses and to drop him at the very end.
DFA123 said:
His team needs to push hard in both Andorra stages, him personally all out in stage 20, and in stage 19 if he smells any weakness from Yates. If not then try to get some bonuses and to drop him at the very end.
Right here. This was the perfect stage for Valverde ofcourse. Not surprised at all. We'll talk again after saturday. Don't cheer to early or it's gonna bite you in your ass
Fair enough, I know you aint running. But even though Saturdays stage is hard, its still 100 km and the mountains really aren't that hard. Gallina is like Cobortoria easy side and thats almost the hardest climb on the stage? Thats certainly Valverde-terrain, him and Yates have the same characterics anyways. It hurts he got 30 sec on that easy stage in the beginning, but props to him.
I honestly thought the dream was dead yesterday. Turns out its more alive than it has ever been. This could be amazing!!
I honestly thought the dream was dead yesterday. Turns out its more alive than it has ever been. This could be amazing!!
"La Rabassa? It’s not bad for me, I know it pretty well. As Alberto Contador told me – he was sitting behind the podium after the stage – I have to take care of my body eat as much as I need, because I really cracked hard at that climb in 2008"
I wonder what kind of advices Contador give his protegé Más after the stage then, but apparently he just reminded Valverde he kicked his ass back in 2008 when - yes - Ballan won. It was raining that day, hopefully it won't do that on Friday and Saturday, but Valverde surely would want to eat a lot beforehand.
I wonder what kind of advices Contador give his protegé Más after the stage then, but apparently he just reminded Valverde he kicked his ass back in 2008 when - yes - Ballan won. It was raining that day, hopefully it won't do that on Friday and Saturday, but Valverde surely would want to eat a lot beforehand.
Today was his best opportunity to take time from Yates, the last 2 major challenges look likely to favour Yates over Valverde more so that today's finish. If Yates is not going to collapse and I don't think it likely, it is going to take something very special from Valverde to win this Vuelta, especially with Adam back, and able, to support Yates if he does get into some trouble. It is now incumbent on QS, Movistar and Astana to keep the bonuses in play on Stages 19 and 20 to help reduce the current 25 second gap further if the opportunity presents itself.
I thought stage 20 would be harder, but like Valv.Piti said it's doable for a rider of Valverde's characteristics. If his current form is sufficient...
Re:
I think we'll trust him that he's learned what to and what not to do.
Valv.Piti said:"La Rabassa? It’s not bad for me, I know it pretty well. As Alberto Contador told me – he was sitting behind the podium after the stage – I have to take care of my body eat as much as I need, because I really cracked hard at that climb in 2008"
I wonder what kind of advices Contador give his protegé Más after the stage then, but apparently he just reminded Valverde he kicked his *** back in 2008 when - yes - Ballan won. It was raining that day, hopefully it won't do that on Friday and Saturday, but Valverde surely would want to eat a lot beforehand.
I think we'll trust him that he's learned what to and what not to do.
Re:
Yep with at least 4 secs and as potentially much as 10 secs of gain guaranteed from keeping the bonifications in play, the gap is definitely bridgeable esp for a man with his finishing power, Yates is pretty good at too mind, as we have seen. Clearly it would have played to QS and Movistar's benefit greatly to have the bonifications in play today, a mistake I think they need to avoid on Friday and Sat no?
18-Valve. (pithy) said:
Yep with at least 4 secs and as potentially much as 10 secs of gain guaranteed from keeping the bonifications in play, the gap is definitely bridgeable esp for a man with his finishing power, Yates is pretty good at too mind, as we have seen. Clearly it would have played to QS and Movistar's benefit greatly to have the bonifications in play today, a mistake I think they need to avoid on Friday and Sat no?
Re:
That is funnyValv.Piti said:"La Rabassa? It’s not bad for me, I know it pretty well. As Alberto Contador told me – he was sitting behind the podium after the stage – I have to take care of my body eat as much as I need, because I really cracked hard at that climb in 2008"
I wonder what kind of advices Contador give his protegé Más after the stage then, but apparently he just reminded Valverde he kicked his *** back in 2008 when - yes - Ballan won. It was raining that day, hopefully it won't do that on Friday and Saturday, but Valverde surely would want to eat a lot beforehand.
Red Rick
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And ofcourse the Valverde definition of kicking someone's ass is finishing s.t. 1 place ahead of them.
I'll admit I'm not the most knowledgeable cycling tactician so someone clue me in.
Why wouldn't you have Bennati and co lead Valverde out for a sprint tomorrow? Even a third place would be significant due to bonifications and if they jump early and split the peloton...
Why wouldn't you have Bennati and co lead Valverde out for a sprint tomorrow? Even a third place would be significant due to bonifications and if they jump early and split the peloton...
Re:
He lost 55 seconds?
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2008/stage-6
Red Rick said:
He lost 55 seconds?
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2008/stage-6
Red Rick
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