Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 3: Lorient - Pontivy, 183.9 km

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Valverde isn’t the norm. He’s an extreme example and hasn’t seriously considered for anything other than a place on a GT podium in 7 years. He’s podiumed at La Vuelta a few times since 2015, but never looked like a threat to win. His greatest achievements over the past 5-6 years are his stages, classics, and World Championship.

That’s not to diminish anything he’s accomplished, he’s one of the greatest ever.
For sure, he's an extreme example but he and others have shown that some riders can be at a top level in their late thirties. Again, Porte is 36 and was third last year, Uràn is 34 and looks in very good shape as well. I never thought that Thomas or any of these guys were ever threatening to win this Tour against the Slovenians, of course. But a podium spot was still a real possibility.
 
agreed.

i was always thinking he might top five, but concerned about the amount of time he will ship in the ITTs.

however, a few favorites have dropped or are dropping and he appears to have improved his TT a bit (according to dauphine).

a clear ride might get him into the top five.

It's funny how nobody is talking about the white jersey at the Tour anymore.

It used to be a quite prestigious, "future winner" type thing.

But after Bernal and Pogacar, nobody really cares anymore.

Normally we'd be talking about Gaudu, Higuita, Vingegaard, Hamilton, Paret-Peintre and Powless, fighting it out for white.

Now it's just a given Pogacar gets it.