Alejandro Valverde confident of form ahead of World Championships title defence
The Spaniard comes into the Yorkshire race with fine legs, having finished runner-up at the recent Vuelta a España

Reigning world champion Alejandro Valverde is relaxed ahead of his title defence at the Yorkshire World Championships. In many ways, the rainbow bands in Innsbruck last year capped off a career that has seen the Spaniard win the overall at the Vuelta a España, stage wins in all three Grand Tours, as well as a truckload of Classics.
However, at 39 years old he has just ridden to second at this year's Spanish Grand Tour, finishing only a couple of minutes off Slovenia's Primož Roglič, which would suggest Valverde isn't done quite yet.
"Last year went very well, as good as it gets, but it doesn't necessarily mean that this year will be as good," Valverde said, keeping expectations manageable. "We realised that meeting and coming together a week before the competition [last year] was great, whether you won or not, so this year we are trying to do the same."
Replicating the routine that won you the rainbow bands last year is a logical first step to keeping the jersey for another year, but the road race in Yorkshire will present a different challenge to the Austrian course in Innsbruck.
"The race is going to break down, that's for sure," Valverede said. "It's 287km and it will be a demanding race. The weather is going to be an important factor, as it usually rains a lot in the area, and if it rains, the circuit will be much harder.
"The itinerary is not has hard as it was last year, but in the end, with the accumulated kilometres and an altitude drop of 4,000 metres, it will definitely be a demanding race. The group arriving will be small and, also, there's a slight slope at the arrival, which is much better for me. We are realistic, though, we know the other teams come prepared and we know it's going to be difficult."
But how does the Spaniard gauge his chances? Last year he beat Romain Bardet (France), Michael Woods (Canada) and (Tom Dumoulin) in the sprint for the line, a star-studded final selection of climbing talent. This year, however, the victory is expected to go to a faster man, such as Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) or three-time champion Peter Sagan (Slovakia).
Alongside the slight slope to the line, Valverde is hoping that his improvement in Vuelta performance this year will correlate to a second Worlds win.
"I feel great, optimistic, I'm looking forward to it. Last year I ended up more tired after the Vuelta, but we had two weeks afterwards and I had time to recover," Valverde said. "This year I finished better. Let's see how it goes and do our best, the Spanish team is in great form and that's it."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
US Pro Nationals Preview: all you need to know about the battles for the Stars and Stripes in Tennessee
The best US cycling talent converge in Knoxville, Tennessee June 23-26, for the US Pro National TT, Criterium and Road Race Championships
By Clara Beard • Published
-
Lucinda Brand takes overall victory at Tour de Suisse Women with dramatic stage four win
Brand won the overall via a long-range attack on the final stage, whilst previous leader Kristen Faulkner crashed in the closing metres
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Alejandro Valverde: Second place at Flèche Wallonne 'is worth as much as a victory'
Spaniard finishes on podium for eight time in final time up Mur de Huy
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Stirling to host time trials at the 2023 World Championships
Central Scottish city to host time trial events at first multi-event worlds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Road World Championships 2022 route announced: Australia races to suit puncheurs
The local loop takes in a brutally steep climb every lap to whittle down the field
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Alejandro Valverde confirms he will stay with Movistar for 2022
The Spaniard enters his 18th year with the Spanish-based team, which could be his last
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar adds World Championships and Giro d'Italia to his wish list but is not done with the Tour de France
The Slovenian says he's still hungry to win at the Tour despite his dominance over the last year
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Jasper Stuyven has his say on Belgian storm after World Championships
'All of a sudden we’re so stupid' says Stuyven after his fourth place in Leuven
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'The girls who were still there can blame themselves': Annemiek van Vleuten critical of team-mates at World Championships
Demi Vollering was due to be a key rider for the sprint but didn't have the legs after multiple mechanicals
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'Remco Evenepoel was the best man in the race after Julian Alaphilippe': Lefevere baffled by Belgian tactics at World Championships
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step boss is happy to keep the rainbow jersey in the team but questions the Belgians' ride
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published