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

[Koronin]

Re:

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...

If Valverde feels like it he may very well get involved in the sprint. Earlier in this Vuelta he finished top 10 in a field sprint, so he may get involved, esp if he's serious about wanting the Green jersey in Madrid as well.

 

[Red Rick]

Bonifications don't change the fact that Valverde still has to drop Yates. I don't think it's worth the risk and energy

 

[Inquitus]

Re:

Bonifications don't change the fact that Valverde still has to drop Yates. I don't think it's worth the risk and energy

Agreed not worth it tomorrow, but definitely could pay dividends keeping the bonifications in play on Stage 19 and 20.

 

[Blanco]

And what about all that talk that Bala and Alberto can't stand each other? It looked like they're really close friends.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

And what about all that talk that Bala and Alberto can't stand each other? It looked like they're really close friends.

I always figured it was just really competitive and always wanting to beat each other, and nothing personal. I don't really think they're friends either, but now that Contador has retired they can lighten up

 

[Koronin]

Re:

And what about all that talk that Bala and Alberto can't stand each other? It looked like they're really close friends.

I've heard they've been very good friends for years. Also heard that during their bans they talked about and both actually did start amateur teams, they just took different approaches to it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

What are people thinking about the approach on Friday to Rabassa? Its a mono climb and a pretty weird one at that, steep at the bottom but gradually flattens out and with MS actually being very good in the mountain at this stage of the race, an attack in the bottom might prove to be a dead sentence. But I cannot help not to think Prato Nevoso about this stage, a stage where Yates began to bleed time, the beginning of the end. I really don't know whats the best tactic is and I dont know either if you try to control the break to get the bonus into play - maybe you can do that with Benna, Erviti and Oliveira who maybe aren't worth so much anyways the day afterwards?

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

What are people thinking about the approach on Friday to Rabassa? Its a mono climb and a pretty weird one at that, steep at the bottom but gradually flattens out and with MS actually being very good in the mountain at this stage of the race, an attack in the bottom might prove to be a dead sentence. But I cannot help not to think Prato Nevoso about this stage, a stage where Yates began to bleed time, the beginning of the end. I really don't know whats the best tactic is and I dont know either if you try to control the break to get the bonus into play - maybe you can do that with Benna, Erviti and Oliveira who maybe aren't worth so much anyways the day afterwards?

Definitely control the break. The stage is very easy, so that should be doable.

Then ride hard on the climb to try to see if Yates will get into trouble and try to control till the end, so Valverde can win the stage.

In other words: Sky train in new colours.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

What are people thinking about the approach on Friday to Rabassa? Its a mono climb and a pretty weird one at that, steep at the bottom but gradually flattens out and with MS actually being very good in the mountain at this stage of the race, an attack in the bottom might prove to be a dead sentence. But I cannot help not to think Prato Nevoso about this stage, a stage where Yates began to bleed time, the beginning of the end. I really don't know whats the best tactic is and I dont know either if you try to control the break to get the bonus into play - maybe you can do that with Benna, Erviti and Oliveira who maybe aren't worth so much anyways the day afterwards?

Definitely control the break. The stage is very easy, so that should be doable.

Then ride hard on the climb to try to see if Yates will get into trouble and try to control till the end, so Valverde can win the stage.

In other words: Sky train in new colours.

I think they could try it, esp now that Quintana is working for Valverde to try to win it. They'll have a full team to use. Thing is, he doesn't need Yates to fully crack just bleed time like he did on the first of the mountain stages before the rest day.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

What are people thinking about the approach on Friday to Rabassa? Its a mono climb and a pretty weird one at that, steep at the bottom but gradually flattens out and with MS actually being very good in the mountain at this stage of the race, an attack in the bottom might prove to be a dead sentence. But I cannot help not to think Prato Nevoso about this stage, a stage where Yates began to bleed time, the beginning of the end. I really don't know whats the best tactic is and I dont know either if you try to control the break to get the bonus into play - maybe you can do that with Benna, Erviti and Oliveira who maybe aren't worth so much anyways the day afterwards?

Definitely control the break. The stage is very easy, so that should be doable.

Then ride hard on the climb to try to see if Yates will get into trouble and try to control till the end, so Valverde can win the stage.

In other words: Sky train in new colours.

Exactly, plus there's a bonus at the bottom of Rabassa, I guess Valverde could take that.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Then thats settled. Controlling the break and riding hard tempo in the bottom with Carapaz and possibly Quintana should do it.

 

[Velolover2]

He could win the Rabassa stage too. I think the climb is highly overrated. Yeah, it's hard in the buttom. But the middle to last part is very easy with only the last k being somewhat steep. Perfect for Valverde and the Movi-train.

That's 3 secs + 10 secs + maybe a 4 sec gap = 19 secs gained.

 

[Koronin]

I think we need to be directing this team. At least we have a plan. It may or may not work, but we have a plan.

3 + 10 (bonus seconds) + the 4 second gap, however, how many of those bonus seconds does Yates get? Are we going to count on Lopez and Mas out sprinting Yates for those other bonus seconds?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

I think we need to be directing this team. At least we have a plan. It may or may not work, but we have a plan.

3 + 10 (bonus seconds) + the 4 second gap, however, how many of those bonus seconds does Yates get? Are we going to count on Lopez and Mas out sprinting Yates for those other bonus seconds?

And I’m sure on the flat run-in for Fridays bonus seconds Mitchelton will let Trentin sprint to make it as hard as possible for Valverde to gain the maximum.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I think we need to be directing this team. At least we have a plan. It may or may not work, but we have a plan.

3 + 10 (bonus seconds) + the 4 second gap, however, how many of those bonus seconds does Yates get? Are we going to count on Lopez and Mas out sprinting Yates for those other bonus seconds?

Yeah, I know it's a messy equation. The fact that it's Yates not someone like Kruijswijk makes it more complicated.

I don't think Valverde can drop Yates on the climbs.. so it all comes down to strategy.

 

[Red Rick]

3rd week one climb stages before a harder stage generally always go to the break.

I very much doubt any other team will want to pull the break back. Movistar can't hope to control the flat AND the climb with just 7 riders, especially as the climb is long enough that you need quite a big train but not hard enough that you can pull back 5 minutes on the breakaway.

 

[SHAD0W93]

It would be great if Valverde pulls within 10 seconds of Yates and than wins the Madrid stage to gain red.

 

[KyoGrey]

They need to crack Yates, not scrap a few seconds etc.

Crack Yates for 30s-1min at least.

Vamos Valverde!!!

 

[lartiste]

"The red jersey is not an aspiration ‘per se’, though I’m feeling strong and close to the top guys. Tuesday’s route shouldn’t be bad for me; hopefully I can have a good day. I still think it will be tough for anyone to make a real gap in the GC to win this one.”

Yep, the red jersey is a huge aspiration and if/when he gets it, he will do everything in his might to keep it. Vamos Alejandro!

Someone else not planning on winning?!

Overall win is lying on the street, who ever will come and take it will win, hopefully Bala will be the first! But eventhough it will be not simple for him, this would be great finale of his career.

Finale? Maybe, just maybe Tokyo Olympics.

He has option to win Vuelta for second time. In my opinion the last one, since the field is exceptionally weak this year and since he is getting older and older every year .

So from GT point of view it is his final GT he can win in my opinion. But we will see of course!

On the other hand if he ride Tokyo with same result as Vino London, I will be very happy for him.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I think we need to be directing this team. At least we have a plan. It may or may not work, but we have a plan.

3 + 10 (bonus seconds) + the 4 second gap, however, how many of those bonus seconds does Yates get? Are we going to count on Lopez and Mas out sprinting Yates for those other bonus seconds?

And I’m sure on the flat run-in for Fridays bonus seconds Mitchelton will let Trentin sprint to make it as hard as possible for Valverde to gain the maximum.

You also might get Sagan in there if he's trying to battle Valverde for the Green jersey as well.

 

[Forever The Best]

Huge respect. Still so strong after that injury last year in such an old age.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

And what about all that talk that Bala and Alberto can't stand each other? It looked like they're really close friends.

I always figured it was just really competitive and always wanting to beat each other, and nothing personal. I don't really think they're friends either, but now that Contador has retired they can lighten up

This. They're obviously not friends, as in they wouldn't go out for a drink together, but in a collegial sense they get along just fine.

 

[lartiste]

Monte Oiz
2018:7,3 km@9,9%---22:36---average speed 19.38 km/h(Mas-Valverde)

Pampeago
1999:7,7 km@9,9%---24:00---average speed 19.25 km/h(Marco Pantani)

It looks like good form .

Source:

https://twitter.com/faustocoppi60

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

So if our Lady is fighting with hurricane Florence (really, good luck), it means no posts?

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

So if our Lady is fighting with hurricane Florence (really, good luck), it means no posts?

Things indeed look critical. I am off to a trip to Hamburg in the weekend and will try to avoid spoilers, so I shall not be contributing either.

And good luck with everything to Koronin. I hope you've decided to get away if you live in the impact zone.