Michael Valgren -What's his future?

[mrhender]

I know... I'am biased as hell since we share nationality...

But hey, what an awesome first season as pro..!!!??

And today was nothing short of amazing. Dominating the finals of a long and hard WC-race after a long season -as neo-pro!!!

He seems pretty all-round.. I also heard Riis say they are working on him to loose some weight to be better in the mountains.

What can we expect from him in the future?

 

[mrhender]

Damn... Something always goes wrong..

Can a mod please correct the name?
It's Valgren, not Valgreen..

Thanks..!

 

[trevim]

I don't know if I like that Riis idea. I prefer him to focus on classics, he seems to have a huge engine, powerhouse style. Should have some potential for some 1week stage races; as for the big classics we'll see but today was a great show.

 

[mrhender]

I don't know if I like that Riis idea. I prefer him to focus on classics, he seems to have a huge engine, powerhouse style. Should have some potential for some 1week stage races; as for the big classics we'll see but today was a great show.

Yeah.. I'am also a little uneasy about it..
Young riders should specialize in the thing they do best..
I fear that the approach could make him more "average" in that very thing he does best...
But hey, Riis probably knows more of his GT-potential than me.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He's definitely a big talent. I hope Tinkoff don't try to turn him into a GC rider because he has the abilities to become a great classics rider. He has a big engine, is good on hills and seems to have great vision in a race.

It was quite a performance yesterday, being the strongest in a group of De Marchi, Kiryienka and Gautier after 230 km's of racing.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Valgren can choose between slaving for Sagan in the classics or Contador in the stage races.

In any case I think he's a natural spring classics man, perhaps similar to Kwia (without comparing the level of skills).

Turn him into a skeleton and he may become sick in half the races.

 

[Netserk]

Very similar to Chava. Let's hope it doesn't take him as long to focus on cobbles as it took Chava.

 

[ILovecycling]

I don't know if I like that Riis idea. I prefer him to focus on classics, he seems to have a huge engine, powerhouse style. Should have some potential for some 1week stage races; as for the big classics we'll see but today was a great show.

Very similar to Chava. Let's hope it doesn't take him as long to focus on cobbles as it took Chava.

agree with both points.

What a performance yesterday, and in this long race, good future

 

[RedheadDane]

If you are biased, then so am I. Been thinking about making a thread for him pretty much since he won PDR, and definitely since his performance at the Vuelta.

As for his future. Well... I don't know. I suppose since he made his "mini break-through" in the classics (yeah, I consider his double U23 L-B-L a sort of "mini break-through"!) I suppose it would make most sense if he continued focusing on that - especially considering the fact that Tinkoff's main "big gun" Classic guy, some Slovakian rider... is mainly a cobbled-kind-of-person - on the other hand; his performance in the Vuelta was, as noted above, pretty good.

 

[the asian]

Definitely a Classics guy.

Should do well in Ronde/MSR/LBL/Amstel

Most of the Danes who do well at Junior and U 23 level suck when they turn Pro.

He seems to be an exception.

 

[Bushman]

I actually think races such as E3, GW and Ronde will suit him better than the ardennes. He seems to thrive in windy conditions and power climbs with not too steep slopes.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He is just so strong. Amazing.

I definitely think he's a classics guy. Agree with Netserk, he's a lot like Chava. Can also TT quite well.

Slightly related: Chris Juul Jensen seems to be a similar type and is also developing quite nicely as a rider.

 

[the asian]

I actually think races such as E3, GW and Ronde will suit him better than the ardennes. He seems to thrive in windy conditions and power climbs with not too steep slopes.

He is just so strong. Amazing.

I definitely think he's a classics guy. Agree with Netserk, he's a lot like Chava. Can also TT quite well.

Slightly related: Chris Juul Jensen seems to be a similar type and is also developing quite nicely as a rider.

I'll think he'll be more like Kwiat.

Seems to have the potential to be a better climber than Chava.

Don't think LBL will be too hard for him.

 

[thehook]

Hey Bjarne says drop a few pounds and you gotta listen. I don't think they want to make him a GT rider or Mountain Dom. If he drops some weight with that big engine and nose for the classics. He will be able to get over the hills much better. Which will help in the Finale..

As far as him being used in a GT. If he does drop weight. He can be used on early climbs and flats.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hey Bjarne says drop a few pounds and you gotta listen. I don't think they want to make him a GT rider or Mountain Dom. If he drops some weight with that big engine and nose for the classics. He will be able to get over the hills much better. Which will help in the Finale..

As far as him being used in a GT. If he does drop weight. He can be used on early climbs and flats.

lol, nobody in their right mind should listen to what Riis says.

 

[Bushman]

lol, nobody in their right mind should listen to what Riis says.

And why is that? He clearly knows what he is doing.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

And why is that? He clearly knows what he is doing.

Basso
Jaksche
Schleck
Hamilton

yea, Riis knows what he is doing.

Anyway, its my personal view.

 

[Bushman]

Basso
Jaksche
Schleck
Hamilton

yea, Riis knows what he is doing.

Anyway, its my personal view.

Schleck was doing quite well when was on Saxo, no?

If your post has a clinical reference of course we can't discuss it here. But is he the only team manager to have worked with a lot of dopers? I dont think so.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He is just so strong. Amazing.

I definitely think he's a classics guy. Agree with Netserk, he's a lot like Chava. Can also TT quite well.

Slightly related: Chris Juul Jensen seems to be a similar type and is also developing quite nicely as a rider.

Except that Valgren is 10 times the rider that Juul Jensen is

 

[Netserk]

Except that Valgren is 10 times the rider that Juul Jensen is

Still funny that he did better than Mr. Anderson (sic) on Kiddesvej.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Still funny that he did better than Mr. Anderson (sic) on Kiddesvej.

Yes, that was weird.

 

[inri2000]

lol, nobody in their right mind should listen to what I say.

Fixed it for you, are you getting this Bushman?

 

[LouieLouie]

Given that he's Danish, previous experience tells me I should expect him to have one promising season, one disappointing season, then to go conti or retire.

 

[Bushman]

Given that he's Danish, previous experience tells me I should expect him to have one promising season, one disappointing season, then to go conti or retire.

I don't think so. Many Danish talent has had a hard time taking the step from u23 to professional, but Valgren seems to have the engine to cope with the longer races. I reckon he is going to make it as a professional cyclist. He might not become a world beater but definitely a solid World Tour rider imo.

 

[mrhender]

I don't think so. Many Danish talent has had a hard time taking the step from u23 to professional, but Valgren seems to have the engine to cope with the longer races. I reckon he is going to make it as a professional cyclist. He might not become a world beater but definitely a solid World Tour rider imo.

Agreed.. He seems to have the stamina, and importantly the right head on his shoulders..