Alejandro Valverde`s dream of another podium finish or even another win in the Vuelta a Espaņa ended in near-nightmare as the veteran Movistar racer crumbled in the final mountain stage and sank from second to fifth overall. The moment the last climb of the 2018 Vuelta a Espaņa began to steepen, Valverde began to struggle. He had, he later revealed, been in trouble since the second ascent of Beixalis the fourth of the race`s six mountain climbs, but even the day before, on the Col de la Rabassa, he had not looked at his best. Movistar teammate Nairo Quintana dropped back from the breakaway group with Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) to support him, but Valverde`s situation was steadily worsening.ADVERTISEMENT All three riders now set to occupy podium positions in Madrid were ahead of him on the stage and he was rapidly shipping time, and on top of that Steven Kruiswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), battling to save his third place - unsuccessfully - charged away, pushing Valverde down another spot. There was massive applause as Valverde crossed the line, guided in by Quintana. And the Spaniard, barely able even to keep pace with the Colombian at some times, recognised afterwards that he had been on the backfoot most of the day. `You have to be happy when you give it everything you`ve got,` Valverde said as he wheeled round at the steep finishing line and then ground to a halt amid a sea of Spanish TV cameras.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
|
