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Mrs John Murphy

Shiti Piti obviously thinks its 2005 still... hate to break it to him but this is as good as it is going to get for him. Enjoy that two year holiday.

Winner Valverde eyes Tours of Italy and France

* Reuters, Sunday September 20 2009

By Alasdair Fotheringham

MADRID, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Alejandro Valverde was quick to name the Tours of Italy and France as his major 2010 targets after success on Sunday in the Tour of Spain.

"I don't think a victory in either can be more difficult than the Tour of Spain I've just won," the Spaniard told reporters.

"Everybody had doubts over my chances of winning a Grand Tour, but now those doubts have gone."

Victorious in 59 races in his eight-year career, the Caisse D'Epargne rider said: "I've won everything else (except a major Tour) so finally taking one is a very special feeling.

"I didn't get any stages along the way, but sometimes if you want something big like a Tour you have to sacrifice smaller things."

Valverde was accompanied onto the final podium by Spain's Samuel Sanchez, second at 55 seconds, with Australian Cadel Evans in third at 1:32.
"A major stage race is 21-days long, the most consistent rider wins and Alejandro never had a bad day," Sanchez told reporters.

"I was stronger than him in the time trials, but he knew how to make the most of my errors."

Barred from racing in Italy since May for alleged links to the Operation Puerto anti-doping investigation, Valverde racked up victories this season in the Tour of Catalonia, the Dauphine Libere and the Tour of Burgos before Sunday's success.

Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) say that blood samples Valverde gave at a doping control when last year's Tour entered Italy for a stage matched DNA from code-named bags of blood discovered in Operation Puerto, launched in 2006.

Valverde has repeatedly claimed he is innocent and appealed against the ban to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Sunday's final 110-km stage from Rivas VaciaMadrid to Madrid was won in a bunch sprint by Andre Greipel of Germany, his fourth stage victory in this year's Tour.

"What I've done here has far exceeded my expectations, I thought we'd get one stage at most," the winning Columbia-HTC rider told reporters.

"Instead we ended up with five victories for the squad and on top of that I've won the points classification. It's amazing."

Valverde's final objective this season is the world championships next weekend in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

"The important thing is that the Spanish are united as a team," he said. "If we have the same objectives then anything is possible."

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Girls and fucked 'em at school. All I know is there were rumours he was into field hockey players. There were rumours...

HuwB · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Eyes them, as opposed to rides them.....

Enchantress · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 327

Putting aside his potential banning from the whole sport for a moment....

Nothing is going to beat Contador in the TDF other than a positive test. I think most of us already know that.

Naturally after winning a huge race one might be accused of having too much confidence but the facts remain.

kathy · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject:

Don't you think he might just be trying to wind the Italians up?
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"You can't win races with passion alone."

Fabian Cancellara (2008)

Me, a fan? · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 127 Location: up yonder

My vote goes for delusional. I would have to put it into perspective for Piti, the Tour is a harder race. Just look at third place of the Vuelta, he finished 45 minutes down in the Tour. But then again, didn't Cadel have 37 bungled up wheel changes at the Tour? Laughing

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I do not need mountains to win the TDF, I need drugs!

paperman · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1295 Location: Ireland

Delusional
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It could be worse!!!

pantanifan · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:17 am Post subject:

None of the above.

My vote goes for euphoric and relieved to have won a GT - his record at the Vuelta is pretty good, and he would have won had Vino and Kash not been in superb form 2 years ago...

Would anyone be surprised if a golfer or tennis player interviewed after winning their first major were to contemplate winning more and other majors? I guess the reason for the surprise is the Shadow of Puerto hanging over him, but he's hardly likely to hold his hands up and say he expects to be banned worldwide by next year, given his attitude so far....

Bartali · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 7730 Location: Hertfordshire

The Lemondheads · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 55

kathy

mr shifter · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Just a reminder that "Menchov" won a Grand Tour this year. Rolling Eyes

Kathy.... I'm with you on this one. stay cool and wait and see.

North or South....Up or Down.....Right or Wrong....Will He, Won't He. Question

It's other people's worry and I'm only an Observer. Cool

Be Lucky
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It's all Publicity "Money" and Cycling is only a Thread it runs along.

Slapshot 3 · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject:

Bit's of all three with a chunk of euphoria thrown in for good measure.

The fans will say he's finally matched his potential the naysayers there wasn't much competition, usual scenario really.

However, unless the UCI and CAS have real evidence they will not extend the ban and at a push CAS could overturn the Italian ban....interesting times ahead. Wonder what's the odds of protests at this week during the worlds
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It's just my opinion, if you don't like it....TOUGH
Look, I keep telling you I'm in shape...Round is a shape

Enchantress · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 327

Mrs John Murphy

annesn · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 534 Location: seattle, USA

Bartali · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 7730 Location: Hertfordshire

kathy · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

MJM, he doesn't have the bloodbags, so he can't put them up for testing.

Bartali, I do believe there is some bluff on CONI's part. After all, they got Basso to confess without concrete evidence. It seems Valverde is made of sterner stuff.
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"You can't win races with passion alone."

Fabian Cancellara (2008)

Mrs John Murphy · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject:

He isn't pushing for them to be tested either. Why not come out, give the DNA test and push for the suspected blood bags to be tested? He gives every impression of a man with a lot to hide.

Sterner stuff - or rather he knows he is protected?

As we said - he might want to race the Giro but that doesn't mean that he will. He's no Lance and his power is limited to Spain.

BTW - what on earth makes you think that the Spanish press is in anyway objective when it comes to reporting on Spanish doping? Come on, be serious.

Good job he isn't Italian, German or French because he'd be on a two year holiday by now if he was.

That said Spain has always been a 'safe haven' for various dodgy characters over the years. Goes to show nothing much changes.

Me, a fan? · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 127 Location: up yonder

HuwB · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:53 am Post subject: