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Don Alejandro
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 10-10-2008 04:57
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March 1st, 2008
I am Alejandro Valverde and most of you should know me. Blogging is gettting more and more popular and I have decided to start one. As my English is not that good, I thought I would ask my good friend fenian_1234 to translate my words from Spanish to English. I wanted to call it Don Alejandro as that is what some call me - and I like the sound of it.
Where to start? This year will be hard and our sponsors are demanding a hell of a lot from the team. We need to win the Tour, the Vuelta and La Doyenne. And when I say we - I mean me - the team will be there obviously to help...but it is me the pressure is on. I think it is impossible for one rider to win those 3 races in the one year, so I have convinced team management that my goals for the season be LBL and the Tour. I will also try for the Dauphine, but if guys like Gesink and Kreuziger come into it in top form it will not be easy. Oscar P will have a crack at the Vuelta and ride support in the Tour and young Luis Sanchez will go after overall and a stage win at Paris Nice. It will be a hard season I think.
I start my season this week at the Vuelta a Murcia. I will ride in Castilla y Leon at the end of March, the GP Miguel Indurain, Pais Vasco, Amstel, Fleche and LBL in April. Then we shall see, but I think I will ride in Asturias and Catalunya in May, the Dauphine in June and will try for the National Championships, as the World's do not fit into my schedule this year. Then it will be the Tour in July, and my season will probably finish with San Sebastien and Burgos in August. Who knows though? If I feel good after the Tour, I may race longer.
The Tour is the main goal and I know I have a chance.
Oh yes - January and February. Let me update you on what the team has done.
We had to send a team to Australia in January. Nobody wanted to go - and management sent probably the weakest 6 guys on the team "Down Under". While the rest of the team were on a training camp in Portugal, the out of shape guys in Australia managed to achieve our objectives there. No one fell off and got injured and everyone finished the race and improved their fitness a little bit. We finished last in the team competition, but what do you expect? It's a meaningless race for a team like ours and shows the ProTour still needs some tinkering with.
February is when the season really began for us.
The Vuelta a Mallorca - This was a good race for us. Sanchez and Lopez picked up stage wins, and finished respectively 2nd and 6th overall.
The team set this up perfectly for Sanchez and Lopez.
Lopez comes around Sanchez for the win.
Not part of the team's plan, but Lopez worked hard to repay the favor the following day, and Sanchez took the stage. We were the best team and Sanchez the best young rider. The sponsors though were not particularly impressed. Colom of Astana took the overall.
GP Mediteranean - We had a quiet race here, though Rodriguez tried his hand once or twice and finished 4th overall. Hushovd climbed well enough to win the overall from Rebellin and Cunego.
Vuelta a Andalucia - We would have liked to have done better here, but there were too many stages for the sprinters and we do not have one even to compete with someone like Van Avermaet, who took the overall and 2 stages. Karpets finished 13th - which was not too bad considering the shape he's in.
Tour du Haut Var - We were there and not there if you know what I mean. Our young team couldn't compete. Schumacher won from Di Luca and Halgand. Our best placed rider Anthony Charteau came in 35th.
Volta a Valenciana - We had high hopes for the Overall here. Sanchez thought he could do it and is coming into good shape for Paris-Nice. But, it was just one of those races. Luis finished 4th overall but was most pleased with a 4th on Stage 3. There was a sharp climb to the finish and he jumped away from the peloton in the last couple of kilometers. Unfortunately, 3 riders survived from the break and were strong enough to hold him off. The gap at the line was 18 seconds. The team did all they could to bring down the gap in the second half of the stage - but in the end it just wasn't enough. Ardila of Rabobank took the overall, he was too strong for everyone on Stage 4. Still, Luis took best young rider again.
Now, on to March, my friends. I do not think I can do anything in Murcia, but we are racing on roads I've raced on since I was a boy, so if the opportunity and my legs are there...I will try. |
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| Il Gladiatore |
Posted on 10-10-2008 05:58
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Neo-Pro
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Great story so far well writen |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 10-10-2008 06:02
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Sprinter
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Nice story! But why has Valverde 81 MO and 79 HIL? I think these stats have to change each other... |
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| rodda |
Posted on 10-10-2008 07:11
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Small Tour Specialist
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Halvor wrote:
Nice story! But why has Valverde 81 MO and 79 HIL? I think these stats have to change each other...
yeah i agree, i actually thought they were the other time around the first time i looked! 
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 10-10-2008 07:28
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No those stats are pretty spot on for the riding style of Valverde, keep them how they are. isso will back me up. Keep up the story Valverde ftw!! |
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| Bosskardo |
Posted on 10-10-2008 08:09
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Sprinter
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How are they spot on. I'd say underrated in hill and accel.
Overrated in tt, flat and maybe sprint.
But i can't be sure. Can you tell us what db and what is the current max of stats in that db.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 10-10-2008 09:19
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i agree that he's overated in sprint stat. he's got the same stats as Eric Zabel and i don't ever see Valverde challenging in the top 5 in sprints.
i also think he should have a lower recovery stat because he always has a couple of stages in every grand tour when he completely blows up and looses about 5 mins. In real life he's prob never going to win a GT because of that fact but with those stats he could dominate.
great story so far though, keep it up. |
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| mesq |
Posted on 10-10-2008 10:44
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Junior Rider
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Valverde is outstanding at short climbs, no matter how steep, but struggles a bit when it comes to longer climbs, so I can't understand why his "Mountains" rating should be higher than his "Hills" rating. Everything is relative, but my guess would be something like this:
FL: 76
MO: 79
TT: 73
HI: 82
SP: 72
Anyways, I like this story, keep it up.  |
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| YtimK |
Posted on 10-10-2008 11:49
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Neo-Pro
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he's using the Divinity DB (correct me if im false) where hill stats are overall very low. Rebellin and F Schleck both have Hill 80 as the highest Hill stats in the DB so 79 is very good too. I think the DB creators lowered the max hill stat in terms of realism. Mountain stats in comparison to Hill stats in the DB are very high, e.g. Leipheimer and Klöden both have 81 Mo, Contador has 83, di Luca and Simoni have 80.. so Valverde having 81 Mo is justified too if you ask me |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 10-10-2008 11:52
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Classics Specialist
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I would put him on 80 myself. Good story so far though! |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 10-10-2008 13:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Yes - it's Divinity V2.
Here are screens of the stats.
Hills
Mountains
Overall
And here's a link for a stat discussion.
https://pcmdaily.c...ost_145946 |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-12-2024 16:54
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| Bosskardo |
Posted on 10-10-2008 14:27
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Sprinter
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wtf, Soler 82 mountain
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 11-10-2008 04:06
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Ok, March has begun and the Belgian season has kicked off. I like to watch the races there, but they are not my kind of race. I am glad for the team that we won't be racing in Belgium at all this month - though because of the ProTour we have to send a team to Flanders and Roubaix. I said it already, but the ProTour needs rethinking. Our only two cobbled races of the season and it is those two....I would laugh if some of our guys did not have to fight their way over the pave.
And in Belgium, O'Grady beat Flecha and Cancellara at Het Volk. Gilbert was too strong for Vansummeren and O'Grady the day after at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. I know that Quickstep will not be pleased with this - I hope it does not make Paris-Nice more difficult for Luis. Flecha is a rider I much admire - I hope we can bring him to Caisse someday. Then Belgium would also be an opportunity for us.
The team for Murcia is:
Me, Rojas, Rodriguez, Moreno, Drujon, Portal, Coyot and Acosta.
Naturally, I am the Leader and I hope I to do something. Rojas will have chances to prove himself as a sprinter, and Rodriguez who is in better condition than me might look to win the race. But we shall see.
March 4th - Stage 1, 162 km, Mostly flat
It was a good day, weatherwise to start my season. The skies were blue and the temperature around 15 degrees.
We tried to put Coyot up the road in a break - but, he was not strong enough and we called him back to carry the bidons for the rest of the day. He also shielded Rojas from the wind. If the Frenchman want to get another contract, he better not have too many days like today.
With the break gone, we hit the front to keep it close. Maybe Rojas can win today we thought - and we cannot give a break time or Joaquin can kiss goodbye to GC.
We bring the break back, Xacebo help us, and we will not forgot their help. I had, as the Beach Boys say, good vibrations in my legs, so I decided to have a go. I see Rojas take Grillo's wheel, but I will folow Hondo. I know who the men to watch are...but it's my first race of the season and holding his wheel is not so easy, even with the good vibrations.
But, I want to eat and as I reach down for the energy gel I lose his wheel. Stupid, I know, but it is early in the season for me.
I am more frustrated when I see that Hondo is the strongest. He wins the stage. Gasparotto is second, I am 11th. My teammate, the 'sprinter' Rojas is only 15th.
I am happy, as those guys up front have 11/12 days racing in their legs already. Rojas? I ask him what happened after the stage and he just shrugs....
Let me say now to make certain things are clear, that sometimes I will criticize riders here - but these are just the thoughts I have in my head. Team spirit and morale is good at Caisse, and to Rojas and Coyot I say that there is always tommorrow... |
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| Gutierrez |
Posted on 11-10-2008 07:37
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Stagiare
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Keep going
I also play as Caisse d'Epargne |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 11-10-2008 07:57
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Sprinter
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This is good writing, but can you show the stage profiles? |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 11-10-2008 12:36
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Great story so far! 
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 11-10-2008 15:54
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Stage 2, 172km, Mostly Flat
Today I did not plan to try anything. I felt like sitting in the pack and saving myself for the TT tommorrow. But the way my people cheered me on from the roadside changed my mind and I did have a little go...
It was colder today but the air was fresh and it felt good to be on the bike. A break got away and just like yesterday we moved onto the front. This is one of our races and the team needs to make a showing. How I would love for Rojas to take the stage today - then we can go into the next few days without pressure.
The break is brought back and it will come down to a sprint. I get Joaquin to work me to the front. I will try for my people. He does a perfect job and I have Hondo's wheel again. Rojas is behind me...There is 5k to go.
Hondo is strong and I know it will be difficult to get around him. I try, but do not have the "badda bing" in my legs yet. Rojas comes past me and we take 4th and 5th for the stage.
Still I am getting stronger and Rojas too is finding his legs. Rodriguez also when he took me to the front looked to be in good shape.
Tommorrow Hondo will lose the jersey - the climb will be too much for him. I will try to take the leader's jersey and so too will Rodriguez. There are a lot of good riders here, and I think we will have to watch for Astana especially, with the likes of Kloden, Leipheimer, Brajkovic and Colom.
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 11-10-2008 16:12
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Stage 3, ITT, 21km,
This is a hard test for this stage of the season. The final 3km average around 10%.
The profile does not do it justice though - here is Garcia Acosta about to tackle the final climb.
As I expected it is the Astana boys who are putting in the fast times.
Brajkovic is the fastest and not even Kloden can touch him. Kloden is faster on the flatter part of the course, but Brajkovic's time on the climb is too much for him.
Daniel Moreno is looking to do something today and he is fast. In fact only 9" behind Kloden. I will ride like him - take it easy in the earlier part and then go flat out on the climb. That is where to make a difference today.
Colom sets the new fast time - this race is important to him and he has already won in Mallorca this year. It will not be easy to beat. Rodriguez rides strongly and puts his head down and gives it his all over the last 2km. He sweeps past Mendes in the last 500 meters and comes so close to Colom's time - just 5 seconds slower.
I will go after Rojas and I know I have a massive job on my hands if I am to overhaul Colom. But, I have worked over the winter on my time trailing and know these roads well. I am confident and serene as I wait.
It is not easy though - the wind is blowing hard and at the first checkpoint I am 2" behind Rodriguez. The fans are there for me at the bottom of the final climb and I try to up the pace for them. I cannot help but rock in the saddle a little and know that I am not pedalling as will when I am fitter. Today will not be my day.
I give it my best though and at the line I am 12" down on Colom and 7" behind Joaquim. It is only my 3rd day racing of the year so it is impossible to feel down.
None of the riders coming next will get come close, even if Hondo will ride bravely in defence of the leader's jersey.
He comes in 30th 1 minute 30 seconds back. Rojas puts in a great ride too for us - he gets 12th position on the stage. We lead the team classification and are ready to strike for the overall tommorrow.
Stage 3 Classification
1 Antonio Colom Astana Cycling Team 28'26
2 Joaquím Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne + 6
3 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 13
4 Manuel Lloret Barbot - Siper + 32
5 Janez Brajkovic Astana Cycling Team + 46
6 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 49
7 Bradley McGee Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 53
8 Daniel Moreno Caisse d'Epargne + 56
9 Ángel Vicioso LA - MSS - Póvoa de Varzím + 1'00
10 David Cañada Scott - American Beef s.t.
11 Héctor Guerra Liberty Seguros + 1'02
12 José Joaquín Rojas Caisse d'Epargne + 1'06
13 David Bernabeu Barbot - Siper + 1'08
14 Daniel Navarro Astana Cycling Team + 1'10
15 João Cabreira LA - MSS - Póvoa de Varzím s.t.
16 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'12
17 Christian Pfannberger Barloworld + 1'14
18 Juan José Cobo Scott - American Beef s.t.
19 Jurgen Van Goolen Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
20 Gilberto Simoni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 1'16
21 Micael Isodoro Fercase - Rota dos Moveis + 1'17
22 David Blanco Rodriguez Palmeiras Resort Tavira + 1'18
23 Iker Camaño Scott - American Beef s.t.
24 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld + 1'20
25 David Herrero Xacobea - Galicia s.t.
26 Ezequiel Mosquera Xacobea - Galicia + 1'21
27 Lars Bak Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'23
28 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 1'28
29 Constantino Zaballa LA - MSS - Póvoa de Varzím s.t.
30 Danilo Hondo Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 1'30
The Overall is much the same.
1 Antonio Colom Astana Cycling Team 8h00'36
2 Joaquím Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne + 6
3 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 13
4 Manuel Lloret Barbot - Siper + 32
5 Janez Brajkovic Astana Cycling Team + 46
6 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 49
7 Danilo Hondo Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 50
8 Bradley McGee Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 53
9 Daniel Moreno Caisse d'Epargne + 56
10 Ángel Vicioso LA - MSS - Póvoa de Varzím + 1'00
11 David Cañada Scott - American Beef s.t.
12 Héctor Guerra Liberty Seguros + 1'02
13 José Joaquín Rojas Caisse d'Epargne + 1'06
14 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld + 1'08
15 David Bernabeu Barbot - Siper s.t. |
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| Goldberger |
Posted on 12-10-2008 02:23
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Domestique
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Great racing Love the pictures also
This is my favourite story atm |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 12-10-2008 07:02
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Thanks, goldberger.
I'm having fun writing it - so I'm glad you enjoying reading it. |
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