Alejandro Valverde: Olympic gold is my number one target

Alejandro Valverde says he will always have the Olympic Games in the back of his mind when racing in 2016, even when helping Nairo Quintana in the Tour de France

Alejandro Valverde after stage twenty-one of the 2015 Tour of Spain

(Image credit: Watson)

Alejandro Valverde admits his whole race schedule in 2016 is building towards winning the gold medal in the Olympic Games road race in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The 35-year-old Spaniard has won a lot of races in his career, but and Olympic medal has eluded him in his three attempts. He finished 47th in Athens (2004), 13th in Beijing (08) and 18th in London four years ago, but in Rio he stands his best chance yet of winning.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.