Well, yes and at the same time Quintana is equally probelamtic. So lets put it that way - there problem are two rather egoistical leaders who have not been near GT-winning form for years.
- Nov 7, 2010
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Also, he still managed to win the last two 'queen stages' of the TDF while finishing top 10 overall. Despite the downturn in form, shows what a high class rider he still is.
Don't worry, Slovenia is MUCH BETTER Colombia than the original south american one, at least in terms of altitude for sports training/sleeping... frikkin 6000m hotel!
Altitude Rooms - Planica
Deliver Your Top Performance Altitude trainings are one of the most efficient ways to prepare for competitions in the world of sports. In the process
www.nc-planica.si
- Aug 4, 2014
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I think he's way too aggressive all the time. No one can attack every stage without burning themselves out. We saw this with Roglic and Yates in the Giro. Quintana doesn't usually meltdown as spectacularly, but he wears himself down unnecessarily. He isn't all that crafty at picking his spots. He just goes. I still think he might have hung onto Froome on LPSM and to Dumoulin on Oropa had he not burned himself out. Maybe he hangs on today as well.
The fight for a first top10 in a GT between Hagen, Edet, Teuns and Pernsteiner is actually pretty exciting. I think Edet, Hagen and Pernsteiner have good chances. Teuns will drop.
- Feb 7, 2015
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To be honest with NQ, it seems that his problem is the team...
NQ is working as a domestique here, and his attitudes on lavuelta has been for a domestique, even when he weared red (He didn't drag too deep on ITT, in order to save energies for this week); and now on a stage that is good for him, he takes Valverde to the finish line...
Don't get me wrong, I still think NQ is not the quality star we had in 2-3 years ago, but he is not the second tier climber we are watching today.
NQ is working as a domestique here, and his attitudes on lavuelta has been for a domestique, even when he weared red (He didn't drag too deep on ITT, in order to save energies for this week); and now on a stage that is good for him, he takes Valverde to the finish line...
Don't get me wrong, I still think NQ is not the quality star we had in 2-3 years ago, but he is not the second tier climber we are watching today.
- Oct 5, 2011
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- Aug 4, 2014
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This is also true. I may also be asking for too much. You don't always have the best legs and you can't always pick the perfect spot to attack. But I still felt uneasy about it as soon as I saw him go today.
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- Apr 3, 2016
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- Nov 16, 2013
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Yeah, such a mediocre and bad rider. Imagine the wonderful years of glory they would have had without him around.
- Nov 16, 2013
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Guys, it's happening.
The youngest and oldest rider of the race are both on the podium. What an absolutely insane situation.
The youngest and oldest rider of the race are both on the podium. What an absolutely insane situation.
- Nov 7, 2010
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I see this kind of sentiment a lot recently, but why are either of them problematic? Do you think Valverde and Quintana have had the ability to win more GTs in the last few years, only to be held back by tactics or rivalries? I don't think so - they just haven't been good enough.
- Mar 13, 2015
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I agree ..Pogacar seems to me the most impressive of all youngsters ..and there are some great ones this year
This is a rider who could win this race and even the Tour very soon
So so impressive ...if only he was with a better team
And probably be retired by 27
Well 39 year olds and 20 year olds don't usually make the podium of grand tours but it seems both might happen in this race. The race has been entertaining even with the weaker field but it doesn't look like Roglic is going to weaken this time. As of today anyway. Pogacar is some talent. Not sure what to make of Lopez's performance. Better ride by Majka today and Latour tried hard. Astana tried to make the race harder but apart from killing off the break it didn't effect Roglic.
- Jul 24, 2016
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Looking very ninja-like, now. Not sure he can maintain the same consistent invisibility as the great Haimar Zubeldia, but we'll see. In fact, Hagen should try to slip unnoticed into a breakaway, soon. He might cop another two or three minutes on GC without anyone realizing it.
- Jul 10, 2014
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Yes, i fully agree. Still both contribute to the funny looking tactics of Movistar a lot. So sneaking in the top 10 with Soler would give Movistar probably a lot less criticism. But i agree - Quintana and Valverde are just not good enough to win a GT. Movistar, in my opinion, should be more clear who is riding what and who is leading what. The double/triple thing they are doing isn't helping.
- Nov 7, 2010
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I don't see a lot wrong with what they're doing. They are getting two (sometimes even three) riders inside the top 10 in most GTs - despite none of them being good enough to win, or possibly even podium. And they are winning big stages in the process.
Seems like they get a lot of criticism that would probably be more fairly directed at teams with similar or bigger budgets like Katusha, UAE, Trek, Bahrain... who have been utterly failing for years now.
- Mar 13, 2015
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In fairness Valverde never said he was going to be the leader...He said the team would wait and see how Quintana went...and lets face it it not happening for Quintana not because of tactics but becasue he doesn't have the legs
Valverde never said he was a GT contenders in this race and at 39 years old he is riding so impressively.He is also the World Champion ...he is a class bike rider and some are forgetting that ...Pogacar may be impressive cos of his age but so in fairness is Valverde
As for the field strength ....I think we will see next year when Roglic and Pogacar are riding the Tour that there are few better . Dumoulin may rue his move
Valverde never said he was a GT contenders in this race and at 39 years old he is riding so impressively.He is also the World Champion ...he is a class bike rider and some are forgetting that ...Pogacar may be impressive cos of his age but so in fairness is Valverde
As for the field strength ....I think we will see next year when Roglic and Pogacar are riding the Tour that there are few better . Dumoulin may rue his move
- Sep 11, 2016
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I want to see NQ in 3rd place and Vv in 4th place with about 10 seconds between them going into stage 20 and watch the fight for the podium.
- Mar 17, 2009
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Looks like La Florecita's prediction is going to be realized:
Roglic
Pogacar
Valverde
I'm pleased with that
Roglic
Pogacar
Valverde
I'm pleased with that
- Jul 24, 2016
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Looks like La Florecita's prediction is going to be realized:
Roglic
Pogacar
Valverde
I'm pleased with that
The way Poga's mojo is growing, it does seem very possible that he will take another minute on Valverde in the coming mountain stages. The long finishing climb on Tuesday is of the type that Valverde sometimes has trouble with.
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