Third place in Cherbourg

Alejandro Valverde has needed a little time to demonstrate his good legs at the start of the Tour de France. Movistar Team rider has finished third in the tricky finish in Cherbourg, end of the second stage of the race. Valverde has only been surpassed by the world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step).

This result also has placed him in third position in the general classification. Anyway, Valverde maintains that the leader of the team is the Colombian Nairo Quintana. One of his rivals, the Spaniard Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) has yielded 48”; while Richie Porte (BMC) has left 1’45” due to a puncture.

Quotes: “We have gone ahead. The climb was quite wide and I have gone well placed. Once you look there you’re not going to stop. I tried to dispute the victory but I’ve been a little enclosed by the left and when I managed to react it was late and Sagan has won very well. I have good legs, like the whole team, but I repeat that Nairo is better than me and it is he who has options to win this Tour”.

Photo: Movistar Team