- Jun 6, 2017
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Yeah, people often forget that Valverde is a contender in almost every race he enters, on almost every terrain, except pan flat. They often forget he has 7 WC medals, a ridiculous achievement! Achieved on various terrains, form rolling to mountain. He came second to Boonen in an 30-40 men sprint, third to Gilbert and Boasson Hagen in an explosive Cauberg finale, and duke it out with the likes of Bardet and Woods on a 20% wall. And at the same time ha has 18
!!! top 10 placings in Grand Tours! Who comes even close to that? I think no one.Nibali? Yes, a magnificent rider, a legend in his own right, but not as consistent and versatile as Valverde. When he sets his mind on something and hits the right form he can produce miracles, like his San Remo win, and in that regard he's better than Valverde, no doubt about that. But he can't be up there in every race and on every terrain like Bala can, not even close, no one can.
Alaphilippe? Amazing rider already, best in the world right now. In the classics he showed he has the potential to become all-time legend, maybe greater than Valverde. He also, similar to Valverde, has the potential to be a threat in every terrain. In GT's he showed what he can do in this year's Tour, and if he focuses solely on the Grand Tours he could surely snitch at least a podium, if not the win itself. But here's the main difference: he must focus on that! Valverde doesn't need to do that. He just rides... The way Alaphilippe's career is developing I see him winning lots of classics, the big ones, I see him winning a couple of big stage races like Paris-Nice or Pais Vasco, plus lots of stages, but I don't see him winning or podium GT's, unless he makes big shift in his career focus. He just doesn't have that skillset as wide as Valverde has.
rick james
BANNED
- Sep 2, 2014
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- Jul 10, 2014
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Oh man I hate when GC contenders have bad luck and don't show up. So now after Yates, Geraint and Dumoulin not coming, we may not even have Carapaz.
I hope this isn't some sort of Ineos vs Movistar thing because he's leaving after this season but maybe I'm just being paranoid. If nothing is broken he should start since I think.
I hope this isn't some sort of Ineos vs Movistar thing because he's leaving after this season but maybe I'm just being paranoid. If nothing is broken he should start since I think.
- Aug 3, 2015
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its his own fault for riding crit races 2-3 days before the frickin Vuelta.
Of course it doesnt have something to do with that. Otherwise Movistar simply wouldnt have selected him in the first place.
The crit was last Sunday. It is odd that his injury is being reported only now when the crash happened four days ago.
Forgot about Uran. Be interested to see how he backs up after the Tour. If Carapaz doesn't start it's a bit of a depleted field this year with no Froome as well. Starting to think that Quintana might have a shot if he can regain some climbing consistency. According to the poll it seems to be now or never for Roglic.
What actually happened to Esteban Chaves after his excellent 2016-season? Has he had any serious injuries or illness?
- Mar 19, 2009
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Knee injury, Epstein-Barr virus
Possibly
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/carapaz-could-miss-vuelta-a-espana-after-crash/
Last edited:
- May 25, 2018
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Report says its a contusion on the shoulder so maybe there was some swelling that they assumed would go down that has gotten worse
- Aug 3, 2015
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Richard Carapaz no tomará la salida en #LaVuelta19
José Joaquín Rojas sustituye al ecuatoriano en el 'ocho' de Movistar Team para la ronda española.
Such a *** idea to ride a crit race 6 days before the Vuelta. Oh well.
José Joaquín Rojas sustituye al ecuatoriano en el 'ocho' de Movistar Team para la ronda española.
Such a *** idea to ride a crit race 6 days before the Vuelta. Oh well.
- Jul 27, 2009
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- May 5, 2010
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Being fair to Carapaz and Unzue, this injury just happens to occur in a Crit. Bernal missed the Giro because of a crash in training. Froome missed the Tour (and the rest of the season) because of a crash on a TT recon. Pozzovivo got hit by a car. Injuries happen in this sport, and not just when competing. Presumably everyone else who took the start line in that crit was unhurt and fit to ride the next day.
Armchair Cyclist
Moderator
- Mar 22, 2010
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Burgos finished on Saturday, so they must have paid good money to get him to the Netherlands the day after, I guess.
Kruijswijk did the same one though, so it's not that it's too unusual
- May 5, 2010
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