I always think Valverde at least was co-leader, Valverde and Unzue were just downplaying it to the extreme. There was no real credibility to what they said to the press.
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This year's TDF route fits Valverde much much more than it does Quintana, so I agree with you.Valv.Piti said:I always think Valverde at least was co-leader, Valverde and Unzue were just downplaying it to the extreme. There was no real credibility to what they said to the press.
According to today's L'Equipe, Unzue decided after the Giro that Valverde would be the leader and Quintana the teammate.wouterkaas said:Looking at GT's Astana would be the most likely move for Quintana.
This year's TDF route fits Valverde much much more than it does Quintana, so I agree with you.Valv.Piti said:I always think Valverde at least was co-leader, Valverde and Unzue were just downplaying it to the extreme. There was no real credibility to what they said to the press.
Many times. It's always covered up by some story (back pain, food poisoning, virus etc.etc.)wouterkaas said:Has a rider ever given up/abandoned because he couldn't live up to the expectations, but was otherwise perfectly healthy?
This.Red Rick said:Wouldn't have pissed me off if Valverde had been co-leader. Landa is a problem. Astana is a great option. I see going to Sky as settling for lesser races honestly. I would be giving up on beating Froome for sure.
Sending Nairo to the Giro could be seen as a sinister plot from Unzue so that his boy Valverde finally gets his Tour win. Don't want to believe that. (Although if true Nairo should go to Astana as soon as possible.)Alexandre B. said:According to today's L'Equipe, Unzue decided after the Giro that Valverde would be the leader and Quintana the teammate.
It very well could have been the plot, and Nairo owes Valverde since last year in particular. IMO, this year's course was the best TdF course that Valverde could imagine, and looking back at stages that could have been problematic for him, time gaps turned up to be very small between the contenders. Add to this small bunch finishes and a couple of muritos, at ten seconds a pop...fauniera said:Sending Nairo to the Giro could be seen as a sinister plot from Unzue so that his boy Valverde finally gets his Tour win. Don't want to believe that. (Although if true Nairo should go to Astana as soon as possible.)Alexandre B. said:According to today's L'Equipe, Unzue decided after the Giro that Valverde would be the leader and Quintana the teammate.
Telling a guy like Quintana to cheat his contract was a tough task!rei_da_montanha said:Nairo Quintana: "Tengo contrato con Movistar y voy a cumplirlo"
Valv.Piti said:I dont know about these rumours. Why would his agent actively reach out to Sky? I know its because Landa possibly is leaving for Movistar, but Sky will still have Froome. I can understand Astana tho, they could build a great team around him I think. I heard rumours about Valverde being the 'secret' captain' pre-TdF, that has maybe pissed him off.
Two years in a row, absolutely no threads to Froome apart from a few attacks 2-3 kilometres from the summit.Arnout said:I repeat: look what happens if the man who never attacks isn't there to attack...
Valv.Piti said:Two years in a row, absolutely no threads to Froome apart from a few attacks 2-3 kilometres from the summit.Arnout said:I repeat: look what happens if the man who never attacks isn't there to attack...
That will never, ever, happen.memyselfandI said:There is sense for Quintana considering going to Sky as it would play well, if he and team focus on Giro and Vuelta that works as a double well for him and route profiles too. Sky could give TdF to Thomas then, who could ride Vuelta too as it's good for both NQ and him to be on a high note when going out from the season to the next season. I think Thomas is next who can challenge Tom D somehow at routes that suite for both. Seems (and this years TdF probably supports) that route like this is favoured in future too. Hopefully. There is no sense to make all GTs climbers race and Quintana, Landa they hit that same old trouble as Gibo Simoni who came with high horse saying he and his team can handle TdF. They were flat flattish and he couldn't.. ASO probably understands this and sets the plate ready for Sky, Sunweb. And BMC. And Sagan, if he gets his balance checked..
Thats very uplifting news and Im glad for him, I think he knows he needed to do that. Col de la Madone record broken?Moviestar said:According to Sergi Lopez Nairo will train permanently in Monaco from now on he won't go to Colombia anymore during his breaks.
I am not sure if that's the right thing to do.Moviestar said:According to Sergi Lopez Nairo will train permanently in Monaco from now on he won't go to Colombia anymore during his breaks.
Where did you read this? It's not on his Twitter.Moviestar said:According to Sergi Lopez Nairo will train permanently in Monaco from now on he won't go to Colombia anymore during his breaks.
DNP-Old said:Where did you read this? It's not on his Twitter.Moviestar said:According to Sergi Lopez Nairo will train permanently in Monaco from now on he won't go to Colombia anymore during his breaks.