Alexander Valverde is a legend of cycling world. This has been made clear in the official presentation of the teams participating in the 2022 Vuelta Ciclista a España. When his name was pronounced by the round’s speaker, he was acclaimed in the Netherlands, a country where cycling is almost a religion and the fans fill the roads in all the races. And it is that the test that starts in Utrecht and will conclude in Madrid on September 11, will become a great tribute to an incomparable cyclistwho at 42 years of age, when this season ends, will say goodbye to professionalism. And it is that the ‘Bala’ has entered world history thanks to his 133 victories since he debuted with Kelme in 2002. They have been two decades in the elite, always at the highest level, with an enviable track record with five Walloon Arrows, four Liège-Bastogna-Liège, twelve stage wins in the Vuelta a España and one in the general classification (2009), four stages and a podium in the Tour de France and five Vueltas a Murcia, the race that he has sustained with his presence over the years more difficult for the organization.
“For me a good result would be that accompany the health, that there are no falls, and if then I can win a stage it would be milk, it would be very nice. The idea is to help the team”, Valverde said before facing his sixteenth participation in a race that will become a great tribute. The first was received from his team, the Movistar Team, which has changed its classic blue jersey for a white one with light blue stripes. It reflects the greatest successes of the Murcian, and the name of the eight riders in this 77th edition of the Vuelta will appear on the back. “The Vuelta is the one I like the most, but also the Giro and the Tour. I have really enjoyed my home race, the affection of the public, and this year I also want to enjoy it, and for that I will try to do my best” “I have not marked any stage in red”, he continues, because “what I want is to do well to seek the general with Enric, and apart from that we will fight for a stage. Any stage would be welcome, but we want to do well as a team”, He has admitted about his expectations in an appointment where his objective will be to help Enric Mas and get the points that his squad needs to stay next season in the highest category of world cycling.
In each and every one of the twenty-one stages of the Vuelta he will be honored as the Murcian deserves, but the two most special ones will be lived on August 31 at ElPozo Alimentación, from where the tenth day will start, and the last day in Madrid.
