“It’s time to take advantage of it one last time, and to thank him. This is how the Movistar formation presented, this Monday on Twitter, the program for this fall of its emblematic runner, Alejandro Valverde. The 2018 world champion, 42, will indeed end his career as a professional cyclist at the Tour of Lombardy on October 8.
“Alejandro Valverde will be competing in his last races as a professional cyclist in Italy over the next two weeks,” says Movistar, detailing the schedule for the Spanish rider’s farewell tour. He will be present at the start of the Coppa Agostoni, Thursday, the Tour of Emilia, Saturday, the Trois varésines valleys on October 4 and therefore, finally, the Tour of Lombardy, the last “Monument” of the season, on Saturday October 8.
For his last events, Alejandro Valverde will be surrounded by a “team of the highest level”, with in particular the presence of his compatriot Enric Mas. During a professional career lasting 21 seasons, Valverde distinguished himself by winning a Tour of Spain in 2009, four editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2006, 2008, 2015, 2017), five Flèches wallonnes ( 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), for which he is the record holder, and a title of road world champion, obtained in 2018. This month, the Spanish rider completed his last Vuelta by finishing at the 13th place, 25 minutes behind Belgian winner Remco Evenepoel. Hasta luego Senor Valverde!