Remco Evenepoel "the best rider in the world at the moment, by a long way" according to Alejandro Valverde
Cycling
Alejandro Valverde, like many other pro riders, has been in Singapore this weekend racing the Tour de France Singapore Criterium. He is officially retired from pro cycling, and has shared his thoughts on Remco Evenepoel, whom he believes will be the next dominator in cycling.
"With what he's showing at the moment, if he carries on like that, he'll be better than me for sure," Valvede told Cyclingnews in Singapore. "Being world champion as young as he is, and winning the Vuelta, Liège, San Sebastián, that's impressive. Valverde has had the opportunity to witness first-hand the power the Belgian has had, and most recently at the Vuelta a Espana Valverde helped but could not assist Enric Mas enough to break the Belgian, who soared to his first Grand Tour victory.
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"He's a rider who, for me, right now, is the best. Tadej Pogacar is exceptional but Remco does things that surprise everyone. He's far superior to others. So for me, he's the best rider in the world at the moment, by a long way," he confidently states.
The Belgian is set to go into 2023 yet with undefined goals, but following a season that could hardly be any better, he will put on the rainbow stripes all-year long and likely ambition further success in the Grand Tours and monuments.
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As for Valverde, he was questioned once again about the timing of his retirement, and if he regrets it whilst still showing great form this year. "No. It's better to finish in a good way, with good results," he responded. "That way people remember you as a rider of 20 years who had a good level at the start and a good level at the end."
"Going on beyond 42 doesn't make sense. OK, I could have a good level next year, but that's it now. I have to make way for the youngsters, and I'll be enjoying cycling from a different angle. I'm happy with my career. I'm not only leaving with 133 victories, but also with 110 runner-up places, and another 105 times third. So that's 300-something times on the podium. I achieved practically everything," the veteran continues.
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Although his future in cycling is still unclear, a rider of his popularity, experience and most importantly close ties with Spanish cycling and more specifically Movistar Team will not struggle to settle in a new role. "I'm going to be involved a bit with the riders, a bit with the directors, and a bit with the coaches. It'll be a bit here and a bit there," he said, hinting he would stay connected with the team he's represented since 2005.
"I'll be trying to bring my experience to advise everyone where I can. If there's anything that can be improved I'll try and help do so," he concluded.
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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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🇸🇬 ¡Disfrutando por Asia! @alejanvalverde, @jjrojillas, @ImanolErviti y @EnricMasNicolau están estos días en los critériums exhibición de @LeTour. Este domingo, Singapur. #TDFSG 📸 ASO / Pauline Ballet
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