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Ardennes classics
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| Blues Brother |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:06
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Under 23
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alexkr00 wrote:
Ivan Basso wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
last year Frank and Sastre were the team leaders. Andy never rode fir himself.
though that I remember Frank saying that was his last chance to win the Tour (win the Tour yeah right...) I still think that they won't risk their Tour performance making Andy the team leader cause being young makes him unpredictible and losing everything in one bad day.
No, Andy never rode for himself, but that's because he had one bad day during the whole Tour, and that where at the first mountain stage and he lost so much time that he didn't get the opportunity to ride for himself, he was forced to ride for Carlos and Fränk. But a few times he was allow to attack and he easily got away from the others.
yeah I remember that him chasing Menchov (when the Russian got down) and the others couldn't stay even in Andy's wheel. But that's my point Frank was almost every mountain stage there looking strong while Andy had one really bad day and lost every chance. That could happen again cause he doesn't have the consistency that you can see at a older rider.
Yes, it can happen again, but this year Andy's got more experience and I think that he is a much better rider also. (And he also attacked on Alpe d'Huez). But I see your point. But if Andy and Fränk can both be high up in the overall, it doesn't become a very big damage for the team if one of them loses time on a stage.
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
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you guys talking about Hautacam stage?..this was nothing ..realy. You have to eat when you are racing..lesson learned
Edited by Guido Mukk on 26-04-2009 22:09
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:15
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World Champion
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then Valverde always forgets to eat in the high mountain stages
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:20
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
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alexkr00 wrote:
then Valverde always forgets to eat in the high mountain stages
Nope he was always cracked..he peaked to early for 2008 TdF (Dauphine rule)..was dead after first week.
Edited by Guido Mukk on 26-04-2009 22:21
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:22
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World Champion
Posts: 13915
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no. Nothing about Dauphine, he just isn't a rider for Grand Tours.
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
Joined: 08-02-2007
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alexkr00 wrote:
no. Nothing about Dauphine, he just isn't a rider for Grand Tours.
If you are too good in Dauphine and your name is not Armstrong..you have peaked to early. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 08:28
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| sjaak5 |
Posted on 26-04-2009 22:43
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 13-07-2008
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he is a good climber, but i think he hasn't got such a good recuperation. |
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| ruben |
Posted on 27-04-2009 09:43
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7721
Joined: 23-10-2006
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Talking about Valverde, he sucked.
21th in AGR
7th in Fleche Wallone
19th in Liege Bastogne Liege
He also had no falls and injuries like others had in the months before (Pfannberger, Dekker, Wegmann, Kirchen to name some with bad luck).
So what's Valverdes excuse? |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 27-04-2009 09:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
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Maybe he's worried about his upcoming suspension |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 27-04-2009 09:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
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CrueTrue wrote:
Maybe he's worried about his upcoming suspension
This is actualy good reason..I have seen it before in other sport how people will crack
this way. |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 27-04-2009 10:10
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
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Well, he won L-B-L.
Once in the year of Fuentes, and once before a decent test for CERA was introduced.
Wonder if the two may be connected in any way.  |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 27-04-2009 10:17
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Neo-Pro
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fenian_1234 wrote:
Well, he won L-B-L.
Once in the year of Fuentes, and once before a decent test for CERA was introduced.
Wonder if the two may be connected in any way.
Don´t think so. Don´t forget that with decent test for CERA he still won Dauphine and was quite good (but far from excellent) in Vuelta and some TdF stages.
That pressure from upcoming suspension have to be quite heavy so that should be reason to be out of form for last few weeks... |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 27-04-2009 12:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
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I suddenly realise that having commented the reason for Valverde's lack of form constantly for about 5 months has been quite pointless
OK, I'll repeat it again:
Valverde was never supposed to be the leader here, and his form is actually far better than it was supposed to be, which will probably harm him at the Tour (if he rides).
He's gambling everything on the Tour. Until the last minute he wasn't even supposed to ride here.
RodrÃguez was the team leader. End of 
Edited by issoisso on 27-04-2009 12:14
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| Blues Brother |
Posted on 27-04-2009 12:38
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Under 23
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I don't understand Valverde at all, I'm pretty sure that he will never win the Tour and I mean to remember that he said that this season he wouldn't go for the Tour. And no it looks like he's going to gamble on the Tour anyway. He's to bad on TT and he doesn't manage to follow the best in the mountains so I don't understand why he is gambling on the Tour when he's going to lose anyway. He should rather go for the Ardennes because in those races he's got a great chance of winning.
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| Roo |
Posted on 27-04-2009 12:48
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Stagiare
Posts: 236
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Valverde has a good time trial, nothing great, but has several top 10's in recent years. Considering Andy's mentioned as a tour winner, Valverde's time trial is not the problem - he is simply unable to ride hard for 3 weeks |
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| Blues Brother |
Posted on 27-04-2009 13:05
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Under 23
Posts: 86
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@Roo:
This is results from last years Tour time trials:
Stage 4 - Tuesday, July 8: Cholet - Cholet (ITT), 29.5km
20 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.29
23 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 1.34
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 26: Cérilly - Saint Amand Montrond (ITT), 53km
30 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 4.02
36 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.25
If you think that Valverde has a good time trial, you are completely wrong. Even Andy is better than him, so time trials are also a problem for him.
Edited by Blues Brother on 27-04-2009 13:18
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| ruben |
Posted on 27-04-2009 13:54
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Grand Tour Champion
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And that without Leipheimer and Contador...
I have no doubt Schleck will keep up with Contador in mountain stages. But TT's. Ai. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 27-04-2009 14:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
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Ivan Basso wrote:
I don't understand Valverde at all, I'm pretty sure that he will never win the Tour and I mean to remember that he said that this season he wouldn't go for the Tour. And no it looks like he's going to gamble on the Tour anyway. He's to bad on TT and he doesn't manage to follow the best in the mountains so I don't understand why he is gambling on the Tour when he's going to lose anyway. He should rather go for the Ardennes because in those races he's got a great chance of winning.
nah, him and Unzué have been saying since November that this year is going to be different, that until the end of July it's all going to be about nothing but the Tour. |
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 28-04-2009 11:57
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Team Leader
Posts: 5759
Joined: 18-05-2008
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issoisso wrote:
I suddenly realise that having commented the reason for Valverde's lack of form constantly for about 5 months has been quite pointless
OK, I'll repeat it again:
Valverde was never supposed to be the leader here, and his form is actually far better than it was supposed to be, which will probably harm him at the Tour (if he rides).
He's gambling everything on the Tour. Until the last minute he wasn't even supposed to ride here.
RodrÃguez was the team leader. End of
I assumed this as well however:
Alejandro Valverde will not, as previously scheduled, participate in the Vuelta a Catalunya coming up in May. Instead, the Caisse d'Epargne rider opted to take part in the Tour de Romandie from April 28-May 3.
The change came about "to take advantage of the fact that I'm approaching my peak of form," the Spaniard announced on Sunday evening, after finishing 19th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
so something is up
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| redlion1987 |
Posted on 28-04-2009 12:26
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Stagiare
Posts: 159
Joined: 12-03-2009
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We made it!
Another great victory of a luxembourgish rider  |
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