24/08/2024

Alejandro Valverde on Ben O'Connor's surprising Vuelta lead: "I think it will be difficult to take all that time away from him"

Alejandro Valverde is spending a few days in the Vuelta a España, as it passes close to home in Murcia, and has been keeping up with the ins and outs of Movistar Team and it's leader Enric Mas who provides a lot of optimism to the former pro that the team can fight for the win in it's home Grand Tour.

In a conversation with Daniel Miranda in the Diario AS, the Spaniard acknowledged that he still doesn't know what his role will be in the team once his two-year contract expires at the end of this season and that he has to "talk to Eusebio (Unzué)": "I'm going with Chente García Acosta, as co-pilot, to give my opinion, see what happens and help. Everything I can contribute will be important".

"It's a bitch how much time O'Connor was given" - Enric Mas gives brutal reaction to upturned Vuelta a Espana GC

He admits, however, that after the first few months after retirement, when he practically continued training the same as when he was active, he has slowed down somewhat and now continues to enjoy non-competitive cycling:

"In my training I lifted my foot a little, Some gravel, some MTB, but still enjoying it although almost no competition. I have time and I enjoy the bike, but you also have to do other things." He remains, and regardless, will likely continue to be part of the team behind the scenes as he remains deeply connected with it and is an historic figure of Spanish cycling. Mas, his former teammate, now faces a difficult challenge in Ben O'Connor who took hold of the Vuelta a España, besides the riders who he matched on Pico Villuercas.

"He would have to take a lot of bonuses to make up that time" - Ben O'Connor unbothered by small time loss to Primoz Roglic on stage 7 of Vuelta a Espana 2024

Enric Mas and Ben O'Connor

On how the Vuelta has turned out after Ben O'Connor's attack and the big lead he has in the general classification, the 2009 winner believes it will be difficult to move him from there: "It's clear that the leader is in great shape and it's surprising that he lost time the first few days. I think it will be difficult to take all that time away from him".

However, with regard to Movistar's options, he has blind confidence in Enric Mas' chances of doing well: "There's still a lot of Vuelta left, and I see Enric doing very well. We all know that, of the three big ones, this race is the one that has always been good for him, and I think we're going to enjoy him a lot".