Two days short of his 37th birthday, Alejandro Valverde`s continued his domination of the Ardennes Classics with his fourth title in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Movistar man is now one short of the all-time record of Eddy Merckx` five victories in La Doyenne. This year`s win was more tactical than his previous shows of devastating strength: Valverde waited until the last moment to unfurl an acceleration that took him past Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) and into the finishing straight ahead of the field. But it was also a Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory that was tinged with a sense of mourning for Valverde`s friend and colleague, Michele Scarponi. Visibly emotional at the finish line and all but in tears as he remembered Scarponi, Valverde`s latest victory, his 11th this season and 107th of his career, was one that was dedicated to the person who has been in everybody`s thoughts this weekend.ADVERTISEMENT `This victory is dedicated exclusively to him and his family, after what happened to Michele everybody is in a state of shock,` Valverde said later. `It`s been a very important loss, he was an excellent person, a very happy person, and I had a great friendship with him, too. `When I heard yesterday about what had happened, I suffered a lot, it really hurt, and I was always certain that if I won, the prize money would go to his family. From here I`m sending them a very big hug.` Valverde said that Scarponi`s death had not made him think of retiring sooner, `because there are dangers but it will always be like that. From above, I`m sure he`s telling us we should continue racing, and I`m sure today he gave me a push to try and fight on for the victory.`
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