Podium in Vuelta a Murcia

Sensational performance in the 38th edition of the Vuelta a Murcia. Alejandro Valverde could not add his sixth win in the list of winners of this race but he featured again, finishing in second place only behind his countryman Luis León Sánchez (Astana). It was a complicated race from the beginning. A large group of about 40 units attacked in the initial part of the stage. Then, Movistar and Astana took the responsibility to work in the bunch.

Valverde, Luis León and Fuglsang attacked on the ramps of the Collado Bermejo, hunting down the last units of the break in the descent of the climb. With only seven riders in the lead, the two riders from Murcia attacked again on the ramps of the non-scoring climb of Gebas. Luisle, second in Vuelta a Valencia, attacked near the finish line and got his first success of the season, with Valverde in second position.

Statements: “The race did become really difficult for us in the beginning with such a big breakaway. We had Imanol and Eduardo into the escape, but there were some teams, like Quick Step or Bora, with a majority of their riders at the front, and also some extremely talented guys like Trentin. There were moments when I thought we would never make it back. However, huge work from both Astana and especially my team-mates made it possible for us to reach the lead group – hats off to the Blues, because otherwise it’d have been impossible”.

Statements: Movistar Team