'All I could do was suffer and then suffer some more': Valverde content after 'giving everything' in final Vuelta mountains
Alejandro Valverde says he leaves the Vuelta a España happy after giving it his all but falling well short of the overall victory
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) looked to be riding a fairytale Vuelta a España at 38 years old, but it ended as a sufferfest today in Andorra.
The Spaniard threatened to take the red leader's jersey from Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), coming within 25 seconds two days ago, but those thoughts escaped quickly in the last mountain test before the final Madrid finish. Valverde ended tough mountain day on the Coll de la Gallina down from second to fifth overall at 4-28 minutes.
>>> Simon Yates sets up Vuelta a España 2018 overall victory as Enric Mas wins gruelling stage 20
"Today in the second ascent of Beixalis, I was suffering a lot," Valverde said. "I wasn't feeling at all good, and I could barely turn my legs. After that, all I could do was suffer and then suffer some more."
Valverde closed the stage 2-46 behind Yates, who should be crowned 2018 Vuelta a España king in Madrid on Sunday.
After an attack by team-mate Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Yates responded at 17 kilometres out and put Valverde in the red zone.
Valverde had Movistar chase, Quintana dropped back, but he cracked in the effort to even catch Yates – much less put time into him. He started the day at 1-38 back, but ended much worse.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"You have to be happy when you give it everything you've got. You have to accept the defeats, when you win, everything is great, but when you lose, you have to recognise that your rivals are better and keep looking ahead," Valverde, the 2009 Vuelta winner said.
"But I've been up there through the whole Vuelta and I'm leaving happy, both for the team work, with our two stage wins, the points jersey and the teams prize."
Team Movistar faltered in their home tour after the Tour de France in July. They took three leaders with Valverde, Quintana and Mikel Landa but they ended only with a stage win by Quintana and seventh overall with Landa.
Quintana began the Vuelta as the standout favourite. Instead, Valverde took the team's leadership reins. It looked good before these last two days in Andorra.
"The team has been great throughout the whole Vuelta and Nairo has shown today he knows how to be a great team-mate and be by my side. I thank him for that," Valverde said. "It's painful to come off the podium, but when you give it everything, you can't ask for more.
"Now I have to look ahead to the Worlds, we have to see what we get there. These last few days have not been the best but I think there's time to turn things around and head to Innsbruck in good shape."
Thank you for reading 20 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tech of the week: Van Rysel releases an aero bike (quelle surprise!) plus a superlight carbon crankset from FSA, a long top tube bag from Tailfin and tyre liners from Zefal
The RCR-F aero bike will be ridden by the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team in 2025, but will it create headlines like the RCR?
By Luke Friend Published
-
British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
By Adam Becket Published
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
Still got it: Alejandro Valverde takes victory on gravel debut in Spain
42-year-old prevails in his first event since road retirement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
By Adam Becket Published