Updated:10/27/2020 1:31h
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To point and apart, Alejandro Valverde’s record would fill all the lines of this article. So extensive and prolific is its service record that it is almost inconceivable that the Spanish cyclist with the most triumphs in history, an active runner who holds the same award, has not made his debut in this infernal 2020 of the pandemic, confinements and uncertainty . On the other side of the screen, in the meeting with the press on the rest day of the Vuelta a España, the former world champion accepts the empty period and shows no signs of concern. «Having one win more or one less won’t change anything».
The figures already reach a sidereal number (127 victorias) and they will not modify the trajectory and perception that one has of Valverde, known in his years of merit as the “Unbeaten” and whom his colleagues and related press call the “Bala” for his ease and propensity to capture hits. Except for the Tour, Valverde saves successes of all colors and conditions. Long rounds (La Vuelta 2009), short rounds (Dauphine, Volta), monuments (4 Lieges), classics of posh (Flecha Walloon, San Sebastián) and smaller races (Andalusia, Valencia, Murcia …), in addition to his record of seven medals in the World Cups or a detail that distinguishes it: it is the cyclist who has finished as world number one the most times from the UCI (five times), tied with Irishman Sean Kelly.
Valverde was born for this sport and he has so much fun that he does not want to put an end to a unique journey. He is 40 years old and one more season of contract with Movistar. Although he has already warned that he may not comply, the Murcian is reluctant to hang up the bike.
«How do you get on not winning? Well, quite regular –he replies–. I would like to get a victory, but the year is so rare and so complicated … It is also true that young people are pushing hard. The team has improved a lot as the season progresses and I am improving too. I would like to win but I am not worried».
Since August 2019
The last triumph of the Spanish was in the ramp of Mas de la Costa, stage 7 of the last Vuelta, August 30, 2019. More than a year has passed and Valverde experiences that strange void of the hunter without pieces. “Winning is always pleasant, but at Movistar we want to win the Vuelta …” says the person involved. We have two colleagues who can win the race (Enric Mas and Marc Soler) and we have to take that into account. If there is a choice, of course I will try.
Sitting next to him, Enric Mas (25 years old) supports the team captain’s thesis. “Alejandro is tenth overall (three minutes behind the leader Carapaz) and anything can happen. We have several tricks to play and this is a point in our favor ».
Valverde is surrounded by young talents in his team, such as Mas and Marc Soler, and he has been surpassed this year by authentic prodigies such as members of the youth generation, Pogacar, Van der Poel, Evenepoel, Van Aert, Egan Bernal, Hirschi and even the winner of the Giro, Tao Geoghegan. They are cyclists in their twenties and could literally be the children of the Murcia cyclist.
«In the generation that arrives they are all very good and go very well on all terrains, in the chrono, in the mountains, in the wind –analyzes Valverde–. They are very complete. It seemed that Egan Bernal was going to dominate, but it has already been seen that this has not been his year. We have seen surprises on the Tour, also on the Giro. A very good generation is coming, in which I do not believe that there are dominators, but that one can win in each race.
Regarding this issue, Enric Mas does not make predictions: «In four years we will be able to answer this question. Bernal won the Tour last year, this summer Pogacar with 21 years. There are a lot of good people and I don’t think one is going to dominate.
Valverde, 48 in the UCI classification who has ruled for so many years and tenth in the Vuelta, he still hopes to rub the lamp so that the void of content will overflow again as always.
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