Official Valverde thread.

[GraftPunk]

Re:

Got to get the complete set of GT and a few classics still missing from the palmares, then it's a victory ride into the sunset.

The way Piti is rolling right now the sun may have to ride off into him...

 

[Irondan]

13 wins so far this season and it's only mid April!

The way he's riding, reaching a "sprinter like" 20 wins this season is completely doable.

 

[meat puppet]

Something about the snake changing its skin but being the same snake still remark by leinders here. I mean cycling has truly changed!

 

[SeriousSam]

Remember, doping stopped some time around 2011. This just Valverde benefiting from the doping he did close to a decade ago.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Remember, doping stopped some time around 2011. This just Valverde benefiting from the doping he did close to a decade ago.

Definitely some truth to that statement, but Valverde never confirmed nor denied that he stopped doping, ever.

Today was a benefit of doping a decade ago, and all last winter during training...

 

[ontheroad]

Valverde's level of consistency is ridiculous. Rarely seems to have a bad day and the fact that he is getting better at 36 and now doing it all clean is a credit to his dedication levels. Who would have known that EPO was previously slowing him down.

 

[Benotti69]

Re:

When will it end?

Methinketh Valverede is 'paying back' the sport for his 2 year ban.

 

[Benotti69]

Re:

Remember, doping stopped some time around 2011. This just Valverde benefiting from the doping he did close to a decade ago.

What?????

Doping stopped after Festina.

It stopped again after Op Puerto.

Then it stopped again when Armstrong called it a day.

Then it stopped when Team Sky came along with their marginal gains.

Since then all the riders that lost their inner fat have been the winners.

Easy peasy Japaneasy.

Doping has stopped so many times that riders are the cleanest things on the planet!!!!!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

If the logic is: "Valverde has only been so dominant because he's gotten really lucky with the lack of rivals who can sprint"
if true, it begs the question of why they have raced against Valverde in a way that allows him for so many sprint finishes? Why not break the race up earlier ?

Pro Cyclists aren't known for their intelligence.

You'll see next Wednesday when the peloton collectively rides to the Mur de Huy for Valverde's "Joyous" Entry.

They're too afraid to risk a guaranteed top ten place for a victory.

Next Sunday they will meet some cyclists who aren't afraid of risking a top ten place for a victory though.

If I was the one making the rules I would only award UCI points to the winners of a race - those points would be allocated to the team, not just the rider in question.

Oh my God! :lol:

Proven right again today.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

13 wins so far this season and it's only mid April!

The way he's riding, reaching a "sprinter like" 20 wins this season is completely doable.

10 wins so far.

Since his ban, he has never won more than three times after Fleche, but I think something like 15 is the most probable number of wins this season.

 

[Irondan]

Re: Re:

13 wins so far this season and it's only mid April!

The way he's riding, reaching a "sprinter like" 20 wins this season is completely doable.

10 wins so far.

Since his ban, he has never won more than three times after Fleche, but I think something like 15 is the most probable number of wins this season.

Yeah, 10 wins on the road and 2 points classifications and 1 mountains classification. I never know when to count the points, overall and mountain competitions but since they're competitions I throw them in there.

Edit: Still, very staggering numbers.

 

[spiritualride]

Now Valverde is ranked #1 on both procyclingstats and cycling quotient cqranking formulas.

 

[Gung Ho Gun]

Re:

It is hilarious that 4 of his 5 wins in FW came after the ban

That actually makes sense. He used to struggle with positioning, and only started winning Fleches when the parcours got slightly harder and a smaller group reached the final Mur de Huy. I don't think his doping in 2014-2016 was different than in 2013.

 

[Benotti69]

Re: Re:

It is hilarious that 4 of his 5 wins in FW came after the ban

That actually makes sense. He used to struggle with positioning, and only started winning Fleches when the parcours got slightly harder and a smaller group reached the final Mur de Huy. I don't think his doping in 2014-2016 was different than in 2013.

I would hazard a guess his motor has improved and his PEDs have improved.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

It is hilarious that 4 of his 5 wins in FW came after the ban

That actually makes sense. He used to struggle with positioning, and only started winning Fleches when the parcours got slightly harder and a smaller group reached the final Mur de Huy. I don't think his doping in 2014-2016 was different than in 2013.

I would hazard a guess his motor has improved and his PEDs have improved.

He doesn't need a motor, he has one right from his birth PEDs, well that's another story..

 

[thehog]

Lol! :lol:

 

[Rollthedice]

Lol! :lol:

Awesome!

 

[Escarabajo]

Lol! :lol:

Oh dear!!!
:lol: :lol:

You made my day!

 

[lartiste]

Lol! :lol:

Oh dear!!!

You made my day!

:lol: great!

 

[Saint Unix]

Doping or not, the guy is pretty damn good. Pretty much the perfect hilly classics rider.

 

[GraftPunk]

Jeez.

 

[58teeth]

AAAAAND yet again...that finish.

 

[classicomano]

Valverde is a *** legend.

 

[Irondan]

Like fine wine.

 

[therealthing]

It's not even funny anymore.