Brilliant performance by Alejandro Valverde in Strade Bianche, the race known for its dirt sections that cross beautiful Tuscan landscapes. The Murcian finished second only behind the unattainable Tadej Pogacar (UAD), who launched his solo attack with almost 50 kilometers to go.

Valverde responded to Kasper Asgreen’s movement at Colle Pinzuto alongside Simmons, Narváez and Wellens, reaching Via Santa Caterina alongside the Dane from Quick Step. Thanks to a hard attack on the final climb, the Movistar man secured his best position in this race, despite a hard and numerous crash that forced him to make up ground along with other riders such as Alaphilippe or Pogacar himself.

“Super happy. A podium that tastes very special in a race that has been very nice for me, which has given me three podiums and, the most special, without a doubt today. It has been a very complicated day. I have crashed in the same incident where Pogacar and others crashed; it took me a long time to get on the bike and it was difficult to turn my body around, but the team’s work to get me back in the race has been phenomenal, and I don’t I expected to be so good in the end.
When Pogacar jumped I was around tenth in the group, he left and it was impossible for me to follow him, he started very strong. Once he was ahead, we knew it was going to be very difficult to chase him down. It was a terrain to know how to regulate himself well, without a flat meter, and it is a scenario in which he handles himself really well. It is being a very nice year, very special and in which everything is going really well. I have had very good feelings today, as throughout the beginning of the year, and thanks to the team, who have done a magnificent job, I have been able to get back into the race, enter that final cut and end up achieving this second”.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency / Movistar Team