Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) just held off the peloton to win Roma Maxima by a slim margin in Italy on Sunday.
Valverde and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r) had led the bunch in the closing kilometres of the race, but it was touch and go as to whether the duo would survive to the finish. Pozzovivo faded, but Valverde moved to the left of the rough, cobbled finish and just held on for the win.
Davide Appollonio (Ag2r) led the peloton home one second after Valverde, with Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) in third.
It's Valverde's second podium appearance of the weekend, after placing third in Saturday's Strade Bianche.
Results
Roma Maxima 2014, 195km
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar in 4-45-45
2. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Ag2r at 1 sec
3. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani
4. Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r
6. Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare
7. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia
8. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing
9. Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant-Shimano
10. Mauro Finaetto (Ita) Yellow Fluo all same time
Kwiatkowski solos to Strade Bianche win
-
-
Seven men jailed for stealing bikes worth £70k from Rutland Cycling shop
Police caught the gang of thieves who had stolen 23 bikes from the chain store in Grafham Water
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
These are all the teams applying for WorldTeam and Women’s WorldTeam status next year
Qhubeka-NextHash miss the first deadline, as five women’s teams apply to step up to the top level
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Alejandro Valverde says he will retire at the end of 2021
The 40-year-old former world champion wants to add an Olympics Games medal to the vast list of achievements before retiring
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Alejandro Valverde to have street named after him in Spain
Alejandro Valverde will be honoured in the wake of his World Championship victory by having a street in his hometown named after him.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Alejandro Valverde’s World Championship rainbow jersey revealed ahead of Il Lombardia
Alejandro Valverde has unveiled the Movistar rainbow jersey he will wear for the next year.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Faster than Paris-Roubaix: Alejandro Valverde posted his Tour cobbles recon on Strava, and he absolutely smashed it
Alejandro Valverde went to recon the cobbles for the 2018 Tour de France this week, and ended up riding most sectors faster than riders in Paris-Roubaix.
By Henry Robertshaw •
-
Alejandro Valverde on the cobbles: 'He's not here to train', say his rivals
After placing 11th in Wednesday's Dwars Door Vlaanderen semi-classic, Alejandro Valverde's team says they will have a think about him riding the Tour of Flanders
By Gregor Brown •
-
Alejandro Valverde injured after hitting barrier during training ride
Spanish star Alejandro Valverde receives injuries after riding into barrier during a training ride, his Movistar team confirm
By Nigel Wynn •
-
Alejandro Valverde pulls out of Tour of Flanders to focus on Giro d'Italia
Alejandro Valverde will focus on the Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege ahead of the Giro d'Italia, withdrawing from the Tour of Flanders
By Stuart Clarke •
-
Alejandro Valverde overhauls Tejay van Garderen to win Ruta del Sol
General classification of the Ruta del Sol in Spain is settled on the final climb, as Alejandro Valverde takes the stage win and GC title
By Nigel Wynn •
