Alejandro Valverde is so far this season being Movistar Team's most important rider, however with his retirement in sight, 'Bala' is also enjoying his last months in the professional peloton. His bold ride at the Giro d'Italia saw him often among the best, and he'll look to replicate that in the second half of the season.
"I'm glad I was able to finish my last Giro, just behind the top 10. We fought to the end for a win and I'm leaving here with a good feeling," Valverde shared on social media. The 42-year old didn't initially come to the Giro d'Italia with ambitions for the overall classification, but after Iván Sosa failed to perform in the mountains and the Spaniard rode a strong opening week, it became a goal to finish on the Top10 - besides fighting for a stage win.
His high position in the GC didn't prevent him from joining the break on stage 16 to Aprica, where he rode impressively in the high mountains to finish fifth, but besides that day he couldn't further contest stage wins. He was in the fight for the Top10 but finished just outside in 11th place, having struggled in the stage to Lavarone. He has nevertheless brought some important points to maintain Movistar Team's safety in the World Tour.
“Now it's time to rest, recover, enjoy and think about the Vuelta. Thanks to all the audiences in Italy and Hungary, and to those of you who follow me from home, for your support at all times," he concluded. Valverde is likely to return to competition at the national championships, before preparing for a final Grand Tour at home in the Vuelta a España.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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