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

[Red Rick]

I'd like to see Nibs and Valverde drop the rest on Muro di Sormano.

Well I am gonna need something to replace my annual dose of Pinobali Civiglio action

 

[Rollthedice]

Well I am gonna need something to replace my annual dose of Pinobali Civiglio action

First, Valverde attacks from 50 km out only in races which take place around Murcia. Second, Nibali will be most likely in better shape than last year so he doesn't need to attack on Muro di Sormano. The Civiglio-San Fermo combo will do.

 

[Carols]

One part that may have contributed to this is that he also has suffered most of his career from a lack of confidence in his own abilities.

Really? That explains A Lot about his lack of courage and happiness with podiums! All Premier athletes Believe they Can Win!

 

[Carols]

Valverde didn't have a working radio so had no idea what the time gap to Pogacar was.

He had 2 teammates in he group. Where both their radios broken also?

 

[Blanco]

First, Valverde attacks from 50 km out only in races which take place around Murcia. Second, Nibali will be most likely in better shape than last year so he doesn't need to attack on Muro di Sormano. The Civiglio-San Fermo combo will do.

Ok, then following wheels on that duo and out sprinting Shark will do the thing

 

[Lequack]

 

[Carols]

Is today Bala's last ride in the Rainbow?

 

[Escarabajo]

He had 2 teammates in he group. Where both their radios broken also?

I don't think there were any teammates at that moment. That was the last climb.

 

[Carols]

I don't think there were any teammates at that moment. That was the last climb.

Maybe we're talking about a different point in the race. I thought the topic was at 38.3km where Bala made his little attack and Pogacar was only 30 seconds ahead. Quintana was definitely there as he went to the front. Soler was dropped when Pogacar went at 38.6.

 

[Koronin]

He had 2 teammates in he group. Where both their radios broken also?

From what's been said, yes. The rain killed their radios. Why it was only theirs, who knows (plus funny when Movistar is a cell phone and cable company).

 

[Koronin]

Think they're worse than in Richmond. Valverde isn't as explosive as he was back then. His sprint is worse. The route isn't so hard that pure climbing ability helps very much. It's well possible it gets terrible weather.

Here's one difference, according to Valverde the Richmond course was horrible for him and he said even after the race he was surprised to have finished 5th because he thought he'd be lucky to finish in the top 10 due to course not being very hard. This one he has said is ok for him, but better for other riders. So he's going into this one feeling he has a better chance than he had at Richmond based on the course layout.

 

[Koronin]

Really? That explains A Lot about his lack of courage and happiness with podiums! All Premier athletes Believe they Can Win!

Yes. He's talked about his lack of confidence a few times since he got his Tour podium in 2015. That podium allowed him to talk about his lack of confidence.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Valverde, great performance and results on La Vuelta 2019.

 

[Carols]

Yes. He's talked about his lack of confidence a few times since he got his Tour podium in 2015. That podium allowed him to talk about his lack of confidence.

Wow, amazing. Imagine what he could have accomplished if he believed he could! They didn't get him a sports psychologist?

 

[Koronin]

Wow, amazing. Imagine what he could have accomplished if he believed he could! They didn't get him a sports psychologist?

No kidding. The former pro said it's scary to imagine what he could have done with just half the confidence of the domestiques like him who had probably 100 times the confidence of Valverde with less than a tenth the ability. The sports psychologigist the team has was asked about motivating different riders which he talked about then asked about Valverde because of how long he's been racing and he said I wish I had a team full of riders just like him as he's the easiest guy on the planet to motivate. Just hand him his bike, tell him when the race starts and point him in the direction of the start line and he's good. I'm not sure they knew how to deal with his lack of confidence esp when he's been one of the most prolific winners in the sport who isn't a sprinter.

 

[Koronin]

 

[joe_papp]

Grande Valverde. What a pro!

 

[joe_papp]

For you record-minded types, when was the last time the reigning world champion finished on the podium in a grand tour?

 

[tobydawq]

For you record-minded types, when was the last time the reigning world champion finished on the podium in a grand tour?

23 years. Olano in 1996 Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

For you record-minded types, when was the last time the reigning world champion finished on the podium in a grand tour?

Olano 1996 I think.

 

[joe_papp]

23 years. Olano in 1996 Giro.

Thanks, man! Wow!

 

[Blanco]

For you record-minded types, when was the last time the reigning world champion finished on the podium in a grand tour?

Abraham Olano, Giro 1996

 

[Escarabajo]

I see this thread going until his 50th birthday!

 

[Koronin]

Why not. He's racing for 2 more years (likely retiring there although has kept the door just slightly open to racing past that), will be with Movistar for at least 3 years after that in some capacity (thought is possibly as a coach), and has his amateur team which he added a U-23 and elite (amateur) team to all the other teams and this year for the first time floated the idea that if he can get the sponsorship is looking to add a Continental team to the full list of teams he runs. So he'll still be around the sport for a long time to come.

 

[moose]

How come Valverde is a hero at 39 and Horner was a dog at 40?