Alejandro Valverde: I consider Mikel Landa more dangerous than Vincenzo Nibali at Giro d'Italia
Alejandro Valverde enters his first Giro d'Italia as one of the favourites and believes Team Sky's Mikel Landa is the one to beat for the pink jersey
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Alejandro Valverde greets the crowds as he prepares to make his first Giro d'Italia start at the age of 36. The Spanish champion has eyes on the overall prize, and leads a strong Movistar line-up into the race.
Alejandro Valverde reveals he is more concerned about Mikel Landa (Team Sky) than Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) when it comes to the fight for pink at the Giro d'Italia.
At the age of 36, Movistar's Valverde is riding his first Giro with the goal of completing the trio of podium finishes, having achieved this already at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
With Landa showing his form at the Giro del Trentino last month, and Nibali finishing well down in the classification, Valverde cites his fellow Spaniard as the one to beat.
"I consider Landa more dangerous than Nibali because of the excellent run of form he showed in Trentino. They, along with [Rigoberto] Uran, [Esteban] Chaves, [Rafal] Majka, [Tom] Dumoulin and [Ilnur] Zakarin will become men to monitor closely," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
Who are the 2016 Giro d'Italia contenders?
Valverde begins the Giro as third favourite for the title behind Nibali and Landa, but has dismissed the idea that his inexperience in the race will hold him back in his battle for the general classification.
The 2009 Vuelta champion says his years as a professional cyclist and experience from other Grand Tours will hold him in good stead over the next three weeks.
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"I think that age and experience help you ride with more focus, with responsibility, and with less tension," he added. "I have inspected the mountain stages with Andrey Amador, and have the support of my team - a united and powerful group."
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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.
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