🎩 Sólo queda descubrirse otra vez ante el buen trabajo de todo el @Movistar_Team. Felicidades a @TamauPogi por su triunfo. 😥 Sólo queda una pero qué carrera. Os espero a todos el sábado 🙌 #LaÚltimaBala 📷 Sprint Cycling Agency
"I'm one of the favourites, if all goes well" - Alejandro Valverde confident into final pro race at Il Lombardia
CyclingWednesday, 05 October 2022 at 13:00
Alejandro Valverde is ending a long-standing career in the peloton this Saturday at Il Lombardia, and has shown good form throughout this week in the Italian Autumn classics, with a second place yesterday at Tre Valli Varesine almost giving him a possible final win as a pro.
Talking to Esciclismo after the finish, Valverde said: “I want to thank the team for the great work they have done. We checked the course from the start with UAE Emirates. We had everything under control." The hilly race was suited to opportunist attacks, which his teammate Enric Mas has attempted in the final kilometers in order to chase a second win following the Giro dell'Emilia.
“In the final I told Enric Mas that he also had to take his own chances, but it ended up being a sprint. I could count on support from Enric and Einer Rubio in the final phase," he continued. However, a small group between the climbers eventually formed towards the end, with a sprint on sight to decide the winner.
Valverde was quick to react when Tadej Pogacar launched his sprint, however did not have enough speed to go through the Slovenian, eventually crossing the line in a tight third spot behind Sergio Higuita aswell. "I have to congratulate Pogačar, he was simply the fastest," he commented.
The build-up has been strong towards Il Lombardia, the final race of his career. Valverde will head into the weekend with high ambitions: “I'm one of the favourites, if all goes well. However, it all depends on the course of the race and the form of the day.”
“I am currently good enough to fight for the win. In addition, I think it is a beautiful course, I like it better than in previous years," he concluded.
Read also
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- you are a hero
maria2024202422-11-2024 - It happens all to often. My crashes over time have yielded a broken neck, broken back, broken left leg, crush pelvis, three broken collarbones, broken right arm and I've even lost a rib. Somehow I still train and do some races every year, mainly time trials these days.awp22-11-2024
- In Italy you have few days, no more than 10 days.maria2024202422-11-2024
- Thank you, I don't know it.maria2024202422-11-2024
- Danish guy here. We have up to 6 monthsspock12322-11-2024
- Yeah I thought also he will race the Tour as well if Tim Wellens not feeling good.
James2631822-11-2024 - is it normal in Denmark not to have a name for the baby after 2 month of his birth? how is the baby officially registered in the municipality/commune? is it not immediate?maria2024202422-11-2024
- Convicted of? Didn't need to be convicted. He confessed. But he was guilty of fraud, racketeering, bribery, drug smuggling, threating witnesses, and extortion.Sweep22-11-2024
- And Lance is regularly at his side. I want to puke each time I see them together.dabman21-11-2024
- WADA had no issues with looking the other way when Lance tested positive. Sorry WADA but you lack credibility.dabman21-11-2024