Alejandro Valverde said he is motivated and in good form for the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships, having finished second in the Vuelta a España.
The Movistar star leader and defending world champion said the brutal Yorkshire course is good for him, but does not suit him as well as last year’s climber’s Worlds in Innsbruck, Austria.
Valverde is expected to lead the eight-rider Spanish squad, which also features the Izagirre brothers, Marc Soler and Luis León Sánchez.
The 39-year-old Spanish newspaper AS: “[Finishing second in the Vuelta] Definitely motivates me, it means I’m in great form. Better than finishing 55th. We now have enough time from the end of the Vuelta to regain strength, rest, focus and go.
“It’s a good World Championships for me, but not as good as Innsbruck. You have to be realistic and last year suited very few riders while this year the race is quite open. I have options, but fewer than last year.”
When asked if he was the favoured rider for the Spanish squad Valverde was coy, saying he will hand over to his team-mates if his form leaves him as the elite men’s road race explodes on Sunday, September 29.
The reigning Spanish champion picked out Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe as his most dangerous rivals on the 285km route from Leeds to Harrogate for the Yorkshire Worlds.
Valverde heads into the worlds after a hard-fought Vuelta, where he was among the top tier of overall favourites.
>>> These are the key climbs in the men’s road race at the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships
Having moved onto the podium after the time trial on stage 11 in Pau, Valverde was locked in a battle with race leader Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), who proved unshakable in the mountains, eventually carrying the red jersey to Madrid.
Valverde was consistent over the three weeks, winning stage seven to Mas de la Costa and finishing in second spot overall, 2-33 behind the winner.
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
British men just miss out on Madison medal as Mørkøv gets gold for Denmark on final day of Roubaix Track Worlds
Katie Archibald also took silver in the points race, her fourth medal of these Championships
By Jonny Long •
-
Jan Ullrich undertakes longest ride 'since Milan - San Remo 1997' at Mallorca Gran Fondo
The German says he has been training hard over the past year after recovering from a troubled period
By Jonny Long •
-
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 •
-
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 •
-
'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 •
-
'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 •
-
Road World Championships 2021: Strava data shows brutality of race around Flanders
Remco Evenepoel, Michael Valgren, Dylan van Baarle and more posted their rides to the site
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Thomas Voeckler: 'We wanted to attack earlier than everyone else at Worlds so they would think we were idiots'
French boss happily accepts fine for coaching Julian Alaphilippe when it wasn't permitted
By Richard Windsor •
-
'I don't want to become a robot': Julian Alaphilippe's second rainbow jersey is another triumph for pure bike racing
The Frenchman was relentless in the defence of his world title
By Jonny Long •
-
'S**t, it's up to me now': Michael Valgren 'saves the day' for Danish Worlds hopes
With a stacked team, much was expected of Denmark, who suffered many misfortunes during the men's road race, but still came up with a bronze medal
By Jonny Long •
