Four days to go

With only four days to reach Madrid and complete his first hat trick in Grand Tours in the same season, Alejandro Valverde keeps defending the red jersey of his teammate Nairo Quintana. The demanding ramps of Mas de la Costa have been useful to confirm the first position of the colombian rider in the general classification of the Tour of Spain, the main goal of Alejandro and the whole Movistar Team in this race.

The rider from Las Lumbreras, which is 16th in the overall, also wears the green jersey of regularity with his partner Nairo Quintana only 7 points behind him. Valverde admits he would like to wear this jersey in Madrid to return to the podium in a Grand Tour but, in any case, it would stay at his team.

Quotes: “I had not recognized the climb. I found it very hard but for me La Camperona is even harder. This one has some rest areas where you can recover. I came with the goal of helping Nairo Quintana to win la Vuelta and do my best. So far we are doing well. I have several positions of honor and I am still wearing the green jersey. I have it difficult, but, in any case, it would stay at Movistar and this is the most important”.

Photo: Movistar Team