“Enric was empty, Ayuso was lacking a little, and Romeo had bad luck” - Alejandro Valverde explains Spain’s World Championship disappointment
Cycling
Spain’s national coach Alejandro Valverde reflected on the 2026 World Championships in Montréal after the road race left his team well short of expectations. Enric Mas, Raúl García Pierna and Iván Romeo encountered different problems during the race. Juan Ayuso made it into one of the key splits, but the effort caught up with him in the final laps.
Speaking to MARCA, Valverde acknowledged that Spain had hoped for a better result and described a race that proved even faster and harder than the team had expected.
“Above all, it was an incredibly hard World Championship because of the course and the speed they rode at. It was spectacular,” Valverde said. “A little more was expected of us. Enric Mas didn’t have the legs he would have liked, and neither did Raúl García Pierna.”
Romeo’s chances were hit by an unusual incident when a jacket became caught in his wheel. “Then there was Iván Romeo’s bad luck, with a jacket getting caught in his wheel. Once you lose a bit of time here, it’s impossible,” Valverde said.
Ayuso stayed in contention longer, but told Valverde he had run out of energy with two laps remaining. “Juan Ayuso was just lacking a little. He told us that, with two laps to go, he was a bit empty. It wasn’t to be, but they gave us everything, and that matters too.”
Spain had anticipated a fast, unpredictable race. “We expected a fast race, a crazy race, but not to that extent,” Valverde said. “Everyone who followed it saw what happened. It was spectacular.”
Brandon McNulty took the title for the United States. Valverde felt the American team’s presence across several moves had helped create its winning opportunity. “It was clear McNulty had very good legs,” he said. “They showed that if you get several riders into the splits, you have options later on.”
Enric Mas before the 2026 Montreal World Championships
Enric Mas was empty with more than 100 kilometres to go
Mas, the Movistar Team leader and recent Vuelta a España winner, lost contact with the front of the race with more than 100 kilometres remaining. Valverde could not say whether his Vuelta effort had played a part.
“No, he was empty. We don’t know if it’s because he hasn’t recovered properly from the Vuelta a España. He doesn’t know either. He’d felt good until today, but once the race was on, he was already riding at the back.”
Valverde said he had noticed both Mas and García Pierna slipping towards the rear when they needed to be near the front. Markel Beloki had also struggled. “We expected a little more, but it is what it is,” he said.
Ayuso did get into one of the important splits. “Juan was in the move, looking for his opportunity, but it wasn’t possible,” Valverde said. “He was where he needed to be throughout, but when you run out of legs in the end, however much you want to hold your position, you can’t.”
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Spain turn their attention to the European Championships
Spain will race the European Championships in Slovenia this week. Valverde hopes the team can improve on its Montréal result. “We’ll see if we can get a better result than we did here. That’s what we’d like, and we’re going into it with enthusiasm, of course,” he said.
Asked how he was feeling after a difficult few days himself, Valverde put the focus on the riders. “How am I? I’m the least important thing. If I’m not 100 per cent recovered, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that they’re in good shape.”
His priority now is straightforward: “We’ll see. Hopefully they all arrive in good form.”
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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