Iván García Cortina tells us what Alejandro Valverde was like pre-race: "He ate rice without oil, without sauce and without salt"

Iván García Cortina has participated in a gravel race this weekend together with Alejandro Valverde. The Murcian finished ahead of the Asturian, who recalled the first training session he shared with the 2018 world champion.

"When you are with Alejandro Valverde sharing day to day you realize why he performs at such a high level. If he is there it is for a reason. He is a benchmark, I already shared a squad with people like Nibali or Landa, but Alejandro imposes a lot."

To illustrate what Valverde was like as a professional, he gives the example of food and how Alejandro took it very, very seriously and did not leave any detail to improvisation.

"For example, when you were eating with him, he forced you to put something on your plate that he wasn't eating. It's what surprised me the most, his way of eating. He ate rice without oil, without sauce and without salt. He only ate what which is pure gasoline to be able to perform at the best level on the bike. When he arrived at the dining room we tried to eat the same as him."

Iván García Cortina has just finished second in a gravel test after Alejandro Valverde. In his 2023 road season, it is worth noting to date a fourth place in the Palma-Palma Trophy, a third in the first stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, an eleventh in the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and a fifth in the E3 Sax Classic. He was 21st in Flanders and 32nd in Paris-Roubaix.

In the second part of the season he will try to get some victory. Cortina hasn't performed at a bad level in his time with the Movistar Team to date, but he hasn't finished getting the victories that were expected when he landed in the telephone group either.