Bonimenier
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I think you do Ineos a disservice to suggest that they wouldn’t structure their training schedule to get the most out of a rider like Valverde. Let’s not forget that Sky have a handy enough classics record (Thomas, Stannard, Poels, Kwiat) to go with their very impressive Grand Tour output, and other riders have tended to go off the boil after leaving. It suggests that their training programs are at the very least composed with some feedback from the riders themselves; Kwiatkowski actually had a pretty poor first year with them, they tweaked his training and his program, and the following season he won MSR, Donostia, and a rake of other things, as well as a MOTM performance helping Froome to Tour win #4 (iirc).
You and wherearemybreaks need to take a little time and actually watch a race, instead making ridiculous comments supported by just your intense dislike of a particular rider.
I might believe this if he won the 2009 Vuelta in a very dominant fashion. Also, Contador raced really hard every spring, as did other great GT riders in the years of their best performances. Nibali went hard everywhere in 2013, Wiggins in 2012, Evans in 2011, Froome in 2013.I believe if he took the same approach as many of his grand tour/stage race opponents, by not competing at a high level throughout the season and focusing on a select few events, then his palmares in grand tours would be more impressive. Early in his career, there was a very short period where he was seen as the next threat to topple Armstrong from his throne. This was before he had consecutive years of crashing out of the Tour. His entire career he has raced pretty much flat out in all the events he took part, be they one day classics, week long stage races or grand tours. It could be argued that, as far as his approach to the Tour and grand tours in general, he is his own worst enemy. And yet he has still had a very impressive career and will eventually end his career as his country's greatest one day racer and one of their greatest overall racers of all time.
I honestly haven’t a clue.I would be curious to hear your opinion on what the cause of the less than the usual stellar performance that Ineos mountain support riders had at this year's Tour? For a team that almost always gets their rider's training/preparation just right, it seemed something just wasn't right with Kwiatkowski, Moscon, Poels and others in Tour mountains. The leaders seemed to be fine but their domestiques were off their game.
and if we saw his gt podiums, we are going to see that he didn't contest the win in all his podiums.I might believe this if he won the 2009 Vuelta in a very dominant fashion. Also, Contador raced really hard every spring, as did other great GT riders in the years of their best performances. Nibali went hard everywhere in 2013, Wiggins in 2012, Evans in 2011, Froome in 2013.
Generally true, apart from the 2006 Vuelta.and if we saw his gt podiums, we are going to see that he didn't contest the win in all his podiums.
Valverde is a horrible team matethe f*ck? Valverde never worked for anybody
Valverde is a horrible team mate
Valverde is a horrible team mate
I don't think that Valverde had the pure GT talent to win a Tour de France. He might have picked off a weak Giro with some luck if he'd peaked at exactly the right moment. Consistent as he's been he's also consistently been not good enough to win them.
He's 39. I think hyping him up as a favorite is silly. But that doesn't detract from his legacy.
You can argue he's the most versatile, but you can't argue it's daylight second in my opinion.He seemed happy enough with his Tour podium. Vino also won a Vuelta as did Menchov but they never looked likely at the Tour. Still Valverde has been the most versatile rider in the modern era. Daylight second.
I think he contested the win in 2012 Vuelta and 2016 Giro as well. Not that much should have went his way and then he suddenly wins. Mechanical early on in the Vuelta and if he catches up to Nibali on the Agnello, he is winning that race.Generally true, apart from the 2006 Vuelta.
Nibali has 2 separate monuments, to Bala’s 1 monument several times. Plus 5 GT wins to Bala’s 1. You can make a strong case case for Valverde, but it’s by no means open and shut.He seemed happy enough with his Tour podium. Vino also won a Vuelta as did Menchov but they never looked likely at the Tour. Still Valverde has been the most versatile rider in the modern era. Daylight second.
I don't claim he's not a GT rider. He's just not among the very best.I think he contested the win in 2012 Vuelta and 2016 Giro as well. Not that much should have went his way and then he suddenly wins. Mechanical early on in the Vuelta and if he catches up to Nibali on the Agnello, he is winning that race.
Its just funny hearing people say over and over that Valverde isnt a GT-rider despite the fact that he has placed himself very consistently in at least top-10, many times top-5 and even top-3 lots of times.
Screw timegaps, he was 10 seconds behind Nibali at some point before him and Scarponi was helped by a moto before Risoul and put lots of time into the Valverde group.I don't claim he's not a GT rider. He's just not among the very best.
Contador and Purito were better than him on almost every MTF in the 2012 Vuelta. And I checked the time gaps on the Agnello stage. He lost all the time uphill.
By that logic, Eddie Mercx would win if he entered.Except that in la Vuelta he has 6 podiums (including his 1 win) which ties the record for most Vuelta podiums. He has only finished la Vuelta outside the top 5 twice and outside the top 10 once which was the year he raced all 3 GTs in one season. It's la Vuelta where he has always done very well. He also is tied with 3 others for the most ever top 10's in GC in GT's and one more gives him the record.
Nibali has 2 separate monuments, to Bala’s 1 monument several times. Plus 5 GT wins to Bala’s 1. You can make a strong case case for Valverde, but it’s by no means open and shut.
In this case you have to take into account results other than just GTs and monuments along with other podium results. Valverde has been on the podium of Lombardia as well as Amstel. Finished top 10 at Flanders, has record number of wins in several races, and has a lot more wins in general than Nibali.