Valverde argues that "it is better to end like this" despite good form towards final career race
Cycling
Alejandro Valverde will finish his long career as a pro cyclist at Il Lombardia. The Movistar Team rider has anticipated this day for several years, but despite the good signs given in the past few weeks, he argues that it's the right decision.
“Seeing the state of form that I am in right now, which is the same as I was 10 years ago, and seeing that I am with the best, I have even considered whether to continue… But no, it is better to end like this," he said in a recent interview.
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The veteran, currently sitting at 42 years of age, has admitted once again having second thoughts over his retirement. This season he's ridden to a second place at Flèche Wallone and Strade Bianche, aswell as taking wins early in the year - as is traditional - at the Trofeo Pollença and Gran Camiño.
It was his recent results that have seen him reconsider however, as he rode to second at Coppa Agostoni, third at Tre Valli Varesine and fourth at the Giro dell'Emilia. Valverde is ending his season and career in these Italian classics, and he argues his form is as good as it was ten years ago, and remains in fully competitive form against the world's very best.
However, the decision as been made, and like his compatriot Alberto Contador, Valverde is likely looking to retire on a high. His final race will be this Saturday's Il Lombardia where he will be a favourite, and having Enric Mas in terrific form sees the Spanish team with two weapons towards the possible goal.
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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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- She deviated from her line - end of
leedorney10-11-2026 - If I was Lucinda Brand, I'd refuse to wear the jersey. Is there a rule that she "has to" wear it, as the winner? It would certainly feel like stolen valor.wrsty10-11-2026
- but don't let your socks be too long or handlebars be a cm too narrow.mij10-11-2026
- Saw a casual interview with Geraint Thomas and him a few years ago. Seems like a nice laid guy and I wish him well.GregT10-11-2026
- Ernesto Maggioni - The president of the commissaires Mafia. It is getting evident that this guy is basically "Iamalwaysrightandyouarestupidsoiwontlistentoyou" kind of guy. So fire him so that he can be always right in his homeabstractengineer10-11-2026
- Somehow it has got into his mind that he is a GC rider. He is primarily a classics and stage rider who can perform on GC given his day. As a result he is wasting his time on TDF GC and once committed to GC you are too tired to do anything else.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- 🐐❤️Lozza09-11-2026
- This is such a black eye to women's professional cyclocross if this result remains. Marie Schreiber won this race fairly. This finish is not unlike others in cyclocross. Lots of moving around to get to the finish not to cut anyone off , but to generate a sprint on soft wide tires caked with mud and sand. This is not nearly the same as a road race between two riders sprinting to the finish on faster bikes and thinner firmer tires. The powers in charge need to use some common sense, reverse this result and remember this is Cyclocross not Road racing. Unbelievable. . .Zencycle09-11-2026
- Tis beyond your comprehension fine sir so best not to look on with blind eyes to THE GOATS greatness.
Brucegel09-11-2026 - McNulty winning was beneficial in ensuring the rainbow jersey would not remain winless
Front24209-11-2026
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💥🎙 @alejanvalverde, antes de la última carrera de su vida: 🤔 “Viendo el estado de forma que tengo ahora mismo, que es el mismo que tenía hace 10 años, y viendo que estoy con los mejores, me he llegado a plantear si continúo… Pero no, es mejor terminar así” #IlLombardia
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