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Valverde resists in the first week

Alejandro Valverde closes the first week of the Tour de France without suffering a single mishap, fifth in the overall, proving he is in a great shape since the start of the race. The Movistar Team rider surpassed with a good note the day of the pavé. The whole Movistar Team fulfilled its objective the day that seemed more complicated for the Spanish squad. Despite a fall of Mikel Landa in the final kilometers, the team showed its integrity as a block acting very cleverly throughout the stage. Valverde, Quintana and Landa finished in the first group of favorites.

Before, the Murcian had already been third in the Mur de Bretagne, the first final in steep in this Tour de France, where the Irishman Dan Martin surprised with an attack 1.2 kilometers from the end. Valverde is just over 1 minute away from Van Avermaet, who will start on Tuesday the Alps dressed in yellow. About the favourites, only Geraint Thomas is better placed than the number 78 of this French round.

Quotes: “It’s been an unreal stage. A really, really hard effort, which we got through way better than expected. After so many tough moments, the team was able to also get Mikel into our group, and that makes me so happy, because they’ve shown how great they can be. We made it through, and that’s already success. My legs feel good at the moment, and our terrain to really shine starts on Tuesday.”

Quotes and photo: Movistar Team