Alejandro Valverde to debut at Tour of Flanders ahead of Giro d'Italia bid
Alejandro Valverde's early season will see him only racing one stage race before the Giro d'Italia in May, with the Tour of Flanders on his radar
Movistar's Alejandro Valverde will make his first appearance at the Tour of Flanders in his build up to his Giro d'Italia debut in May.
The Spaniard has form racing on cobbles, having ridden Dwars Doors Vlaanderen and E3 Harelbeke in 2014 to prepare for the cobbled stage of the Tour de France.
But at Movistar's training camp in Pamplona, it was revealed that Valverde would ride Flanders and the Giro in May, both new races for him.
The only stage race he will enter before the Giro will be March's Tirreno-Adriatico, where he last raced in 2002. After the Giro he will reportedly ride the Tour de France alongside Nairo Quintana - the duo finished second and third in 2015.
But one of Valverde's main goals of the year is the Olympic Games road race in Rio, which favours the climbers and has attracted a field that will likely include Chris Froome and his teammate Quintana.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
Promising 18-year-old dies in training incident
Spanish teenager Juan Pujalte rode for Alejandro Valverde's team
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Giro d’Italia organiser postpones Maglia Rosa presentation after death of Davide Rebellin
Presentation indefinitely postponed by RCS after Rebellin’s sudden death
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tributes to Davide Rebellin pour in from the global cycling community
Italian recently retired professional cyclist was killed yesterday morning after being struck by a truck
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Six things we want to see in Movistar's ‘The Least Expected Day’ season four on Netflix
The fourth season of the series following the exploits of the Spanish team expected in 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Annemiek van Vleuten heads to Kenya with the Masai tribe
Dutch World Champion takes her gravel bike to Kenya for an off season adventure with the Masai tribe
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Movistar team up with Saudi Cycling Federation
Both sides will work together to promote cycling in Saudi Arabia
By Tom Davidson Published
-
What I learned from watching season three of Netflix's Movistar documentary ‘The Least Expected Day'
Enric Mas battles to reach the top and 'Superman' brings the drama in the latest instalment of the Spanish Eastenders
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Two cyclists dead and three hospitalised after serious hit and run incident
Driver located and arrested after initially fleeing scene in Catalonia, Spain
By Tom Thewlis Published