Official Valverde thread.

[classicomano]

When was the last time Piti really cracked in a race? He seems to have been peaking for like 2 straight years now. Its unbelievable.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Does LBL have the most shameful record of any classic?

Valverde x 3
Vino x 2
Hamilton
Di Lica
Rebellin
Iglinsky
Camenzind
Vandenbroucke
(Winners who have been sanctioned for doping violations.) That accounts for 11 editions since 1999

It's a roll call of shame. No other monument has quite such a litany of dopers on its list of winner in recent years.

The other monuments are all won by dopers too, but you're right, LBL seems to be getting most of the ones that are caught.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

When was the last time Piti really cracked in a race? He seems to have been peaking for like 2 straight years now. Its unbelievable.

He's cracked quite a few times on GT stages; including almost every day during the third week of the TdF last year.

 

[thehook]

Amazing rider. He cracked in the 14 Vuelta.

 

[rainman]

Fully paid up member unlike GVA?

 

[happychappy]

Can't wait till he gets into his 40s, he'll be taking off at the top of mountains and flying away. Flap flap flap.

 

[nayr497]

I printed out a 2015 Classics calender and put it on my wall at work. I've been noting the race winners; I haven't had the heart to update it since Amstel Gold.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

When was the last time Piti really cracked in a race? He seems to have been peaking for like 2 straight years now. Its unbelievable.

He cracked in the 3rd week of last year's Tour, losing his much coveted podium spot.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

When was the last time Piti really cracked in a race? He seems to have been peaking for like 2 straight years now. Its unbelievable.

He cracked in the 3rd week of last year's Tour, losing his much coveted podium spot.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re:

Seems riders have to wait till mid 30s for their peak......when most riders would be lucky to even have a contract!!!!!!!!!!

Make that early 40s... Just wait and see what Valv-Piti is capable of doing when being 42. He may even nuke grandpas Vuelta records.

 

[movingtarget]

He looks unstoppable at the moment. He looked to have something in hand when winning Fleche and Liege. Classics were always a better fit for him even though he managed to win a Vuelta. Interestingly in his last two wins he beat a 21 year old who seems to have a big future ahead of him.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Teun de Wit ‏@teundewit Jul 24
@Digger_forum Taking a shot of an inhaler. Valverde surely has a TUE??? 1 k later he attacks...


SO - did anyone pick up on this ? is it for real ?

 

[SlickMongoose]

Are inhalers against the rules? Do you need a TUE for them?

 

[zigmeister]

Re:

Can't wait till he gets into his 40s, he'll be taking off at the top of mountains and flying away. Flap flap flap.

I see what you did there...Horner reference, well done. But I foresee knee problems and then nobody wants him on their team..that is cycling for you. He will "retire" then be a director sporteif not long after.

 

[SeriousSam]

2,1,1 for Amstel, FW, Liege. 3rd Tour de France, 3rd best climber in the Tour. Huge natural talent but I won't rule out the use of performance enhancing drugs.

 

[May0maniac]

Teun de Wit ‏@teundewit Jul 24
@Digger_forum Taking a shot of an inhaler. Valverde surely has a TUE??? 1 k later he attacks...


SO - did anyone pick up on this ? is it for real ?

Yes, I saw him taking something strange out of pocket and I thought "that's a strange energy bar", I wasn't thinking that it would be an inhaler, but it looked weird

 

[Netserk]

Not just relatively (there can be no doubt about that), but in absolute terms, is this the best Valverde ever (throughout the season)?

 

[SeriousSam]

Teun de Wit ‏@teundewit Jul 24
@Digger_forum Taking a shot of an inhaler. Valverde surely has a TUE??? 1 k later he attacks...


SO - did anyone pick up on this ? is it for real ?

Doesn't look like an inhaler. More like a comlink. See this pic for comparison:

 

[The Hitch]

Why couldn't Piti podium last year's piss easy tour and yet did so well in this one.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Why couldn't Piti podium last year's piss easy tour and yet did so well in this one.

Probably a combination of better form, better route and better weather.

 

[Saint Unix]

Re: Re:

Why couldn't Piti podium last year's piss easy tour and yet did so well in this one.

Probably a combination of better form, better route and better weather.

And a better inhaler.

 

[The Hitch]

I wonder what Piti alpe d huez time comparisons are 2006-2008-2013-2015. Was this his best result.

 

[Eagle]

Re:

Not just relatively (there can be no doubt about that), but in absolute terms, is this the best Valverde ever (throughout the season)?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-ive-never-seen-valverde-so-strong/
Nibali thinks it is

I had never seen Alejandro Valverde in such form, he is stronger than ever.

 

[snccdcno]

Re:

I wonder what Piti alpe d huez time comparisons are 2006-2008-2013-2015. Was this his best result.

This year was 40:42, 2013 was 40:58 and although he isn't in the top 100 times for 2008 going by Sastre's time he did 41:43.

 

[The Hitch]

Thanks. So a full minute faster in "post epo" era than in cera era. From a 35 year old convicted doper. That should pretty much put the - cycling is now clean discussion to bed.