He is riding Amstel. Told you
I don't think so. Do you have a source?
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He is riding Amstel. Told you
Stupid decision on both his and the teams part. He could win at Valencia and he had promised the Spanish races he would race them in his final season. He has zero chance of doing anything at Amstel.
Stupid decision on both his and the teams part. He could win at Valencia and he had promised the Spanish races he would race them in his final season. He has zero chance of doing anything at Amstel.
Yes zero. The way the circuit is, he can't win on it. His from is at best 2019 levels and he couldn't win on this circuit in his best form from his best year. The way this course is is suited to the cobbled riders even more than it typically is. Plus he's broken his promise to Valencia.Zero chance? Really?
You might wanna read this...
Valverde re-opens possibility of adding extra year to career
Former world champion mulls over 21st pro seasonwww.cyclingnews.com
Sad that he didn't consult with you. He is in his best form in a year and a half right before one of the three races which are glaring gaps in his palmares (Strade and Lombardia are the other two), so it certainly makes sense. Also, maybe rewatch the 2018 race before saying he is certainly without chance.
Except for all the planning these races have done for plans to honor him. Likely also money spent on these plans as well. He wasn't originally planning on racing the Ardennes this year either. He made a promise. These races were making plans based on this promise.He probably didn't make an unbreakable contract with Valencia. Maybe he just wasn't expecting it to overlap with the Ardennes Classics.
Except for all the planning these races have done for plans to honor him. Likely also money spent on these plans as well. He wasn't originally planning on racing the Ardennes this year either. He made a promise. These races were making plans based on this promise.
Looking at the riders going to Valenciana and the other teams, Valverde has no business going there for an "easy win". He probably doesnt want it that way, and he already have 3 wins there against much better fields. It would be a pointless win and dont know if it would be the best preparation either.
Better to let the young riders on your team go there this edition, with Mas. Who probably needs a confidence boost. Mas should have a good chance to win it.
In his current form he is their best chance at Amstel for a good result. Makes sense to go there, even if it also might be just to get a race before Fleche and LBL.
Cortina is much better suited to this Amstel course than Valverde is. Valverde has no chance to win or even podium on this Amstel course. No reason for him to race it at all. Actually I'd say Matteo Jorgenson has a better chance to get a decent result on this Amstel course than Valverde has. Also in his current form Valverde is not going to win Fletcher or LBL. There is no way to make going to Amstel make any sense. Not only that he has skipped Amstel for stage races in the past then gone to Fletcher and LBL.
Cortina is much better suited to this Amstel course than Valverde is. Valverde has no chance to win or even podium on this Amstel course. No reason for him to race it at all. Actually I'd say Matteo Jorgenson has a better chance to get a decent result on this Amstel course than Valverde has. Also in his current form Valverde is not going to win Fletcher or LBL. There is no way to make going to Amstel make any sense. Not only that he has skipped Amstel for stage races in the past then gone to Fletcher and LBL.
Look, he raced Catalunya, raced Itzulia, both were very hard races, especially Itzulia. Another five-day race would be too much before Fleche and Liege. Yes, he wants to do that races, and yes he has a chance. As far as I have seen, only Slovenian duo is stronger atm. But this is no stage racing, we're talking about one-day races here, Valverde is a master in those (rewatch GP Indurain...) Now Amstel doesn't suit him down to the ground, I agree, but he had some very good races there, and doing the Cauberg 13 times, is no fluke. It's nearly 40 bergs in 220 km, I wouldn't call that easy. Anyway, even if he doesn't do anything there, it is much better preparation for his two main races of this part of season. Doing Valencia at this moment would be just a waste of time, and counter productive.Stupid decision on both his and the teams part. He could win at Valencia and he had promised the Spanish races he would race them in his final season. He has zero chance of doing anything at Amstel.
And how could you be so sure? He looked pretty sharp to me in his last three races. I would say only two or three guys maybe have a better form, but just maybe...Not going to win maybe, but a podiumspot is very possible in both Fleche and LBL. Both Valverde and Movistar would sign for those results inmmediately.
Why is it suddenly Fletcher? Also, the only time he has ever missed Amstel when he had the opportunity to go was in 2016 where he was aiming for the Giro. He has 12 participations. And no, Cortina and Jorgenson do of course not have better chances than him.
Not going to win maybe, but a podiumspot is very possible in both Fleche and LBL. Both Valverde and Movistar would sign for those results inmmediately.
Look, he raced Catalunya, raced Itzulia, both were very hard races, especially Itzulia. Another five-day race would be too much before Fleche and Liege. Yes, he wants to do that races, and yes he has a chance. As far as I have seen, only Slovenian duo is stronger atm. But this is no stage racing, we're talking about one-day races here, Valverde is a master in those (rewatch GP Indurain...) Now Amstel doesn't suit him down to the ground, I agree, but he had some very good races there, and doing the Cauberg 13 times, is no fluke. It's nearly 40 bergs in 220 km, I wouldn't call that easy. Anyway, even if he doesn't do anything there, it is much better preparation for his two main races of this part of season. Doing Valencia at this moment would be just a waste of time, and counter productive.
And how could you be so sure? He looked pretty sharp to me in his last three races. I would say only two or three guys maybe have a better form, but just maybe...
His 2019 level, of whom we're talking about, is not his spring 2019 level, but autumn. Vuelta and Lombardia level. With that level he can win, believe me. In 2018 he was past his peak, and Alaphilippe was on the rise, which now isn't a case. I rate him as one of the 5 main favorites for the Ardennes double.
You know, @Koronin, for someone who's such a big fan of Valverde, you don't have a lot of faith in the guy's abilities...