So how's Valverde looking, guys? I admittedly haven't been following the detailed results...mostly just looking at how my fantasy TdF team is impacted by the stage, and Valverde's not on my team. Has he recovered from injuries suffered in the crash? Was he a credible challenger for the stage win on the day he finished second? Is his continued participation in the Tour in any way jeopardizing his Olympic plans? Does he have any possibility to win the Olympic road race?
Sorry for so many questions, but hope you'll indulge me.
He is looking quite good, I would say. On stage 8, he lost 35 minutes after dropping down from the break because he was freezing. On stage 9, he did well in similar conditions...
And yes, he was a legitimate contender for the stage he was second, but Kuss was a bit stronger, simple as that. He was second best by far, though.
I definitely don't think he has any lingering injuries. I don't know about the jeopardization of his Olympic chances. I still remember 2014 when he was on his knees in the last week of the Tour and couldn't even beat Péraud and Pinot for the Tour podium, and then six days later, he won the Clásica San Sebastián at a canter. I would be surprised if he won but it's not entirely impossible, I guess.