World No. 1 UCI World Ranking

The 11th place in Il Lombardía last Saturday put an end to the season 2018 for Alejandro Valverde, a year that started with doubts due to its fall in the prologue of the previous Tour de France and that ends with the rainbow jersey on his chest.

Valverde has accumulated throughout the season 14 wins, highlighting the World Championship achieved in Innsbruck (Austria). He has also got two stage in the Tour of Spain, in which concluded fifth in the general classification, two other stages and the GC of the Volta Catalunya, one stage and the GC in the Abu Dhabi Tour, two more stage victories and the GC of the Vuelta a Valencia, the Grand Prix Miguel Indurain and one more stage and the GC of the French Route d’Occitanie.

As a result of this regularity, Valverde finished 2018 as the number one of the UCI World Ranking, the classification that considers all the races of the professional calendar. It will be the only one existing next season after the disappearance of the UCI World Tour Ranking.

Quotes: I felt the tiredness of this long season a bit today. I didn’t really feel bad, and was able to stay close to the top contenders all day, struggling but fighting into those final climbs. However, you’ve got to be honest: there were some of the best in the world in this race, and they might have come to this race in better condition. I can only be satisfied about my 2018 season and this rainbow jersey on my chest.

Quotes and Photo: Movistar Team