The Caisse for Valverde

12 March 2010 | 0:00 - By Matthew Keenan

Spain's Alejandro Valverde may carry a lot of baggage but he has shown a refined ability to be a factor in any race, write Matthew Keenan.

valverde_310x175_nice_getty_1082665269

Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandero Valverde leads teammate Luis Leon Sanchez (Photo: Getty)

This is only an assumption based on a hunch - most Australian cycling fans don’t care much for the Caisse d’Epargne team or their leader Alejandro Valverde, and very few think he can win the Tour de France.

None-the-less, in the shadows of the Alberto Contador show here in France, Valverde and his team have caught my attention in this edition of Paris-Nice.

The performance of the Spanish outfit in the crosswinds on stage one was a demonstration, if nothing else, of a united front within the team.

This is a cohesive unit and the team here at Paris-Nice is almost the same as the team that rode the Tour Down Under.

It’s the nucleus of the team that will be spending the year in each others pockets up to and including the Tour de France, with yellow in Paris as the number one objective.

No, Valverde isn’t one of the big favourites, obviously Contador is the man to beat, with Andy Schleck as the main challenger - and who would dare underestimate Lance Armstrong.

But what Valverde does have this year, which he hasn’t had in the past, is a new-found confidence after proving to himself that he can win grand tours after claiming the 2009 Vuelta a Espana.

More importantly the biggest addition to his repertoire, as a result of that win, is that he looks to have acquired the skill of self-control.

Throughout his career Valverde has chased every win like a dog chasing a tennis ball down the road, without consideration for the consequences.

The opening stage of the 2008 Tour de France is the perfect example. Valverde exploded out of the peloton on the final climb, won the stage, took the first yellow jersey and then, as he has in every other attempt at the Tour, imploded when it mattered.

It was a different Valverde at the Vuelta last year. He didn’t win a single stage.

He marked the men he needed to and only attacked when there was a genuine opportunity to take time on his rivals.

It was the sort of calculated effort others have been criticised for employing.

Also working to his favour at this year’s Tour is the lack of time-trial kilometers where he will almost certainly lose time to Contador.

Plus Valverde has shown that he is a fighter. A scrappy one, as we saw at the Dauphine Libere last year when he called in favours, but still a fighter.

Valverde’s not the sort of guy his rivals can ever relax around. He’s always looking for an opening, looking for a way to win.

I won’t be putting my money on Valverde to win the Tour but I certainly expect him to have a serious say in the final outcome.

So is there much support for Valverde out there? And how do you rate his chances at the Tour?

Share article: 
top

Comments (15)

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | 2 | Next 10

17 Mar 2010 16:35 AEST

Nick

From: Melbourne

--

I wonder what Matt and the rest of those who disagreed with Valverde being a doper will think in light of the CAS decision and the UCI now pushing for a world wide ban on Valverde. This guy was protected by the Spanish Cycling Fed for far too long. Even now his lawyers are stalling so he doesn't face the music. Admit it Valverde and then we can all move on!

Agree (3 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

16 Mar 2010 12:52 AEST

Dave

From: Melbourne

--

Sam, I reckon you are on the money. I guess the point I would make is if we, the public, and Caisse d'Epargne accept that Valverde is not the winner, even if we like him, particulary when Contador and co are in the paleton, why not go with a 2 pronged attack with Valverde acting as a foil i.e. CSC in 2008, who knew Sastre would turn out to be leader and eventual winner when all eyes were on the Schlecks [stage 17 L'Alpe-d'Huez, Sastre, best stage ride in years]. CSC broke Evans, Menchov and other GC contenders that year. Admittedly Contador and co where not in the paleton. To me L.L.Sanchez has te making of a champion, and definitely a couple of TDF's, Veulta's and/or Giro's. I love the way he rides, give him his head, and with Valverde acting as his foil, who knows, he might just win. Worth a try.

Agree (2 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

15 Mar 2010 18:24 AEST

Sam

From: Uraidla

--

Dave, I do agree to a certain extent. Unless you are Contador then you need a two ponged approach to the Tour de France these days. Luis is not quite ready in the mountains to challenge Contador but then again who is? The only was to beat him will be to keep attacking him right from the bottom of the climbs because he cant physically go with every attack for three weeks. Not just on the hilly stages either, attack when he least expects it. Sanchez to me has the best racing brain in the peleton.

Agree (1 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

15 Mar 2010 16:34 AEST

Nathan

From: Canberra

--

My queston is why we need 'entertainers' so much that we are willing to turn a blind eye when they cheat. If he is innocent then great, but CONI found him guilty. Valverde was challending that ruling, but only on the basis of the process, not the base allegation. Pretty clear cut I would have thought.

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

15 Mar 2010 12:37 AEST

Dave

From: Melbourne

--

Whilst I do like Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne might want to think about building their team around Luis Leon Sanchez for the big GC events. To me, with the right team and support, he could be the man to take on Contador. What do others think?

Agree (2 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

15 Mar 2010 10:01 AEST

Gus

From: Gold Coast

--

Yes Matt, he is still racing - but not in Italy! It appears CONI have somethign that no-one else seems to have, or believes to be true. Anyway, Valverde will still be considered good for the sport, and in particular the TDU, as long as he continues to remain off the podium. I can only imagine the media coverage if he managed to gain a podium or even the victory at this year's TDU. His dubious past would be spread across the pages....

Agree (1 people agree)    Disagree (3 people disagree) Report this
 

13 Mar 2010 21:03 AEST

Matt Keenan

From: Tourrettes-sur-Loup

--

Sam and Matt O, you’ve identified one of the key problems with the current fragmented approach to the anti-doping regime. For the sake of the sport Valverde needs to be found universally guilty or innocent. I understand your views and can assure you the cloud over his head had me hesitating on writing this piece but I figured there are others in a better position than me to judge him and at this stage he’s still racing.

Agree (15 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

13 Mar 2010 14:59 AEST

Nick

From: Melbourne

--

What a Piti this article doesn't cover all the facts....

Agree (4 people agree)    Disagree (3 people disagree) Report this
 

13 Mar 2010 13:29 AEST

oob

From: Melbourne

--

Implicated is implicated, not found guilty of doping. If the guy doped, and the authorities have plenty of samples to worm with, then bust him. If his samples turn up nothing, then get on with your life and enjoy his riding which is great to watch. You guys refuse to see your opinions as just that, opinions. You confuse them with facts.

Agree (2 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this
 

13 Mar 2010 13:28 AEST

Frank

From: Sydney

--

Sam from Perth. He may be a doper but cycling's authorities have a lot to answer for not resolving his sins of two years ago. Why should he be blamed for not being banned? His doping issues is history and should be buried. Move on Sam, give Valverde a break. Pro-cycling desperately needs an entertainer and Valverde fits the bill.

Agree (3 people agree)    Disagree (6 people disagree) Report this
 
Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | 2 | Next 10

Join the discussion

You have characters remaining.
Validation (
) :
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.

PLEASE NOTE: All submitted comments become the property of SBS. We reserve the right to edit and/or amend submitted comments. HTML tags other than paragraph, line break, bold or italics will be removed from your comment.