Who would you put your money on, Valverde or Baby Schleck?

[theyoungest]

Considering that Baby Schleck is going to end up domestiquing for Horner in July . . . .

But no, I don't see Valv winning the Tour either.

Horner isn't exactly a great time trialist either. At least not on the flat courses we'll get in the Tour.

As for Valverde: Andy Schleck is the better climber, and an equal time trialist. Don't see it happening.

 

[The Hitch]

Horner isn't exactly a great time trialist either. At least not on the flat courses we'll get in the Tour.

As for Valverde: Andy Schleck is the better climber, and an equal time trialist. Don't see it happening.

Well the old Valverde was a good prologue specialist and great on hills so we might see him in yellow at some point, but by Paris those days will be over.

 

[Christian]

Gentlemen's agreement ... LBL and TdF already decided

 

[The Hitch]

Gentlemen's agreement ... LBL and TdF already decided

What does Schleck get in return

 

[hfer07]

If the contest was exclusively between the two of then... I'd say Schelck would win it,since he's way better in the climbs & less of a failure in the ITT-although Valverde has proved to be worthy of GT ambitions after his Vuelta win......

what appears interesting is that as soon as Contador isn't riding, all of the sudden new "TDF possible winners appear"......

 

[airstream]

What does Valverde get in return

Queen stage on the Dauphine.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Gentlemen's agreement ... LBL and TdF already decided

Except that LBL is not Andy's to give away.

 

[Wallace]

If it comes down to Piti vs. Schlecklet I'll gouge my eyes out with chopsticks.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

This is just another stupid thread asking a daft question.

Like him or not (his racing is crap) Schleck has a way better pedigree in a 3 week serious GT. Valverde has no chance, yes no chance. Everything moves on and just like when Lance came back I think Valverde will get bitten in the *** (maybe in a strange twist by his own dog). If I remember right just about everything that could go right for Valverde in 2009 Vuelta, did. Most of the good guys dropped out, Evans had tech problems and lets just remeber this is the Vuelta not the Giro or Tour.
If you look at the 2009 podium would you seriously say that Valverde will beat Evans or even Sanchez in the next tour?

Really?

 

[Panda Claws]

Except that LBL is not Andy's to give away.

Wasn't it Kolobnev's?

 

[Beech Mtn]

Wasn't it Kolobnev's?

AK doesn't give anything away. Everything has a price.

 

[Lexman]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/valverde-believes-he-can-win-the-tour-de-france

That would be a duel I hadn't yet considered for the TdeF

In the Tour it never worked out well for Valverde, i don't see it happen he will ride for the yellow jersey, top 10 yes, maybe top 5 but no podium...

 

[Christian]

Gentlemen's agreement ... LBL and TdF already decided

BTW ... is Valverde wearing a Livestrong bracelet?

 

[jens_attacks]

BTW ... is Valverde wearing a Livestrong bracelet?

he always did

 

[happychappy]

BTW ... is Valverde wearing a Livestrong bracelet?

Yes. Has done for years. His mother dying from cancer *might* have something to do with it.

 

[Christian]

Yes. Has done for years. His mother dying from cancer *might* have something to do with it.

Or is he mounting a conspiracy with Andy??

(OK thanks for the explanation didn't know that)

 

[usedtobefast]

Valverde for sure. i like Andy, but Balverde has balls.

 

[blaxland]

None of them will win.But having to pick one thats easy VALVERDE he has style.(Andy is a baby).

 

[orangerider]

Valverde's sprint talent go to waste on the Tour for the GC. No bonus points, so no incentive, energy wise, to go deep at the line to only gain a second or two, when bonus points would give a lot more. Better if he just stage hunts and hopes for an overal decent GC placing.

 

[nobilis]

Valverde's sprint talent go to waste on the Tour for the GC. No bonus points, so no incentive, energy wise, to go deep at the line to only gain a second or two, when bonus points would give a lot more. Better if he just stage hunts and hopes for an overal decent GC placing.

He's done that so I don't think it would be a motivation for him. Winning the tour is the ultimate goal for him after winning a GT and many classics, the tour is what he still has to add to his palmares (World Champion title too, although he came close many times).
But objectively speaking, I can't see him winning the tour this year. He'll be between the 5th and 8th place I guess but of course, I hope i'm wrong.

 

[Woody22]

Schleck easily but it won't matter as neither will podium.

Evans, Wiggins, Levi is the battle.

 

[hrotha]

Some of you guys are overrating Valverde. He's never shown to be able of handling the Tour. The mountains of the Vuelta are a different matter.

 

[Woody22]

Some of you guys are overrating Valverde. He's never shown to be able of handling the Tour. The mountains of the Vuelta are a different matter.

Exactly!

A win and 2 second places in the Tour v first place in Vaulta because Evans got a flat.

 

[nobilis]

Exactly!

A win and 2 second places in the Tour v first place in Vaulta because Evans got a flat.

that's very simplistic. Using the same logic, Evans won the tour because most of the main contenders crashed out of the race and the rest did a very tough Giro and others waited for the final meters of each climb to launch their attack.

 

[El Pistolero]

Philippe Gilbert