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

[Amazinmets87]

He could win FW... field is weak.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Another win, no surprise there.

 

[Blanco]

Grande Bala, first race - first win! Sounds familiar, champion is always a champion.

 

[Koronin]

First gravel race, first win. Congrats, Bala.

 

[Amazinmets87]

I have a feeling he could end up a WC in two disciplines.

 

[Ricco']

It wasn't by any chance the Lleida-Barcelone-Lleida, was it?

 

[Panda Claws]

Fun to see someone clearly enjoying the sport so much

 

[ice&fire]

It wasn't by any chance the Lleida-Barcelone-Lleida, was it?

It was a 100km race in Almería.
According to the link below he left the bunch behind 2km after the start.

Alejandro Valverde debuta en el gravel a lo grande

El del Movistar, a sus 42 años y tras retirarse la pasada temporada, se estrenó en la modalidad de gravel con un triunfo contundente en La Indomable.

as.com

Valverde on a 98km lone breakaway with no cameras to be seen is the paradigm of myth.

He's racing again next Saturday in Girona.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I wonder just how technical it was; a lot of gravel races are just like road races, but off-road.....And most races tend to favour the ex road racers rather than the off-road specialists.

 

[Fantastico]

I wonder just how technical it was; a lot of gravel races are just like road races, but off-road.....And most races tend to favour the ex road racers rather than the off-road specialists.

Here's some images (of course, they do not provide a full impression of the course): https://www.sportograf.com/es/event/10202

 

[CyclistAbi]

We missed you at FW.

 

[Blanco]

Bala actually beat some decent field: Dani Moreno, Luis Angel Mate, Alberto Losada, Paul Voss, Cameron Mason...

 

[tobydawq]

Bala actually beat some decent field: Dani Moreno, Luis Angel Mate, Alberto Losada, Paul Voss, Cameron Mason...

Sure but why would we think those riders would stand any chance against him?

 

[Unchained]

So saying you are retiring doesn't really mean anything..

 

[gregrowlerson]

It was a 100km race in Almería.
According to the link below he left the bunch behind 2km after the start.

Alejandro Valverde debuta en el gravel a lo grande

El del Movistar, a sus 42 años y tras retirarse la pasada temporada, se estrenó en la modalidad de gravel con un triunfo contundente en La Indomable.

as.com

Valverde on a 98km lone breakaway with no cameras to be seen is the paradigm of myth.

He's racing again next Saturday in Girona.

Next we will hear about Nibali winning a sprint

 

[RedheadDane]

"He's coming home". Except he isn't, coz he just keeps on racing.

So saying you are retiring doesn't really mean anything..

These days, "retired" pretty obviously means "started racing gravel full-time."

 

[Bolder]

"He's coming home". Except he isn't, coz he just keeps on racing.



These days, "retired" pretty obviously means "started racing gravel full-time."

Indeed. He could be "winning" gravel races until he's 65, like Ned Overend or Tinker.

 

[Blanco]

It would be really nice if Bala becomes the World Champion, again...

 

[Axel Hangleck]

El dominio de Valverde en números: 8 minutos más rápido subiendo, casi 2 minutos más lento bajando

Alejandro Valverde dominó La Indomable, prueba de las UCI Gravel World Series, gracias a una excepcional ventaja obtenida en la primera mitad de la prueba, prácticamente toda en ascenso

esmtb.com

Some info; 8 mins quicker uphill, and 2 mins slower on the descent, when he didn't need to push it.

 

[Unchained]

"He's coming home". Except he isn't, coz he just keeps on racing.



These days, "retired" pretty obviously means "started racing gravel full-time."

I didn't go to the Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego but lots of people did.. would not be surprised to see Valverde coming to beat people up and then flash his pesky smile like he is always super fresh!!
I am happy about him out there mixing it up.. and the reporting about guys weaving mountain bike racing into their regular schedule.. It's really really #$cking awesome and I hope Tom Pidcock turns everything upside down!!
I don't know much about Valverde's inner working but I wish I did.. Mystery to know if gravel and mountain bike time was a contributor to him being on the road for decades..
I hope he races until he is 80!!

 

[Fantastico]

El dominio de Valverde en números: 8 minutos más rápido subiendo, casi 2 minutos más lento bajando

Alejandro Valverde dominó La Indomable, prueba de las UCI Gravel World Series, gracias a una excepcional ventaja obtenida en la primera mitad de la prueba, prácticamente toda en ascenso

esmtb.com

Some info; 8 mins quicker uphill, and 2 mins slower on the descent, when he didn't need to push it.

I read somewhere that he even walked the last technical gravel section because he was so far ahead and you do not have any assistance in case of a puncture.

 

[Blanco]

I read somewhere that he even walked the last technical gravel section because he was so far ahead and you do not have any assistance in case of a puncture.

He walked them over

 

[Berniece]

Does anyone know if he's riding Unbound Gravel in the US?

 

[fmk_RoI]

Out next week. Can you wait to buy your copy and read it?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1664962672331292673

View: https://twitter.com/fmk_RoI/status/1664962672331292673


(Edit: I accidently deleted the original book cover image. Ooops.)

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Does anyone know if he's riding Unbound Gravel in the US?

He's not showing up on the elite men's start list, so unless he wants to make a surprise, last-minute entrance I doubt it.

Unbound Gravel 2023: Elite start lists

New in 2023, riders in the elite category will have their own start in the 200-mile race.

www.velonews.com