Cycling: “It was time to say goodbye, I enjoyed it,” says Alejandro Valverde

The Vuelta peloton, in another gesture of respect, of those that have been repeated during the 21 stages, sent Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) ahead in the final circuit of Madrid so that the Murcian could say goodbye to his fans as he deserves a cyclist of his category. «In just six kilometers rolling ahead I remembered every year, all the Vueltas that I have disputed. I enjoyed a lot. I let out a tear or two -he admitted-. In the end, there are many years and there has to be a beginning and an end. This is the end, but it is the dream ending.”

The cyclist with the 133 victories in twenty professional seasons is leaving. At 42 years old, Valverde will still contest three races in Italy and will put an end to his career in a race at the height of his legend: the Giro de Lombardia, the ‘Classic of dead leaves’, the fifth monument of the season. The bells of the Madonna del Ghisallo church will ring in his honor on October 8. For him and for another giant, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who will retire from cycling on the same day.

Of all the emotions that he carries, Valverde acknowledged that he is left with “the incredible respect of my teammates and rivals, from the first to the last, to whom I am very grateful. They have been very chivalrous. Vincenzo and I were impressed with the corridor that they made for us before the start of the last stage. I want to thank all of them.”

The Murcian runner said goodbye to the fans that have loved him the most and also to those who have given the most. Of his 133 victories, 97 came south of the Pyrenees, 16 in France, eight in Belgium and only three in Italy. He is satisfied with the farewell to him in the Vuelta. “I have enjoyed it. I knew that this was the moment and it has been perfect, because the Vuelta has been very good for the team, and when everything goes well he enjoys himself more. I also. I have not won a stage, but that was secondary -he explained to Spanish Television-. I have enjoyed Enric’s second place and sometimes seeing myself fighting with the best. That means that at 42 years old I still have a high level because he leaves very quickly ».

With his goodbye, an era closes. “I’m beginning to be aware of it,” acknowledges the Murcian, who began winning in 2003 in Vitoria in Itzulia and has continued to win until 2022. Three victories contemplate him this year: a test of the Challenge de Mallorca plus a stage and the general of O Gran Camiño. He is also the Movistar cyclist with the most points in the season, ahead of Enric Mas and Alex Aranburu, key to the team’s permanence as World Tour.

Movistar, after the Vuelta, has risen to 14th place in the table and has taken an almost definitive step towards permanence, beating Cofidis, BikeExchange, EF and Arkea. It is almost impossible for it to drop below 18th place, which is now occupied by Ion Izagirre’s Cofidis, who mark the permanence with a 700-point advantage over Lotto, the first team to drop. Israel is almost second class.