Game by game, the motto that ‘Cholo’ Simeone established upon his arrival at Atlético de Madrid as the first commandment for the Atletico fan. Despite being a recognized follower of the eternal rival, Real Madrid, Alexander Valverde (Murcia, 42 years old) has those words engraved on fire in which he is being his last participation in the Giro d’Italia. The Murcian, before facing the second block of the race once the initial days through Hungarian territory have been overcome, moves away from euphoria and shows a low profile with which he intends to achieve his maximum objective in the Corsa Rosa. Win a stage As he did in 2016 in his previous participation, it would be the dream goodbye.
“I see the first stages in Italy well. I think it is a very demanding second block of the race and we are going to go day by day”, Alejandro analyzed for AS in reference to the great high finals that will arrive this week: Mount Etna (4th stage) and block house (9th). Despite the fact that the Movistar rider has remained cautious in the Hungarian stages, especially in a time trial in which he preferred not to risk the slightest to avoid falls, he acknowledged that this Tuesday, during the 22.8 km at 5.9% average of the volcanic ascent, it will be time to face: “Etna can already be an important day and we have a very good motivation.”
“I see the stages in Italy well, the second block of the Giro is very demanding”
Alexander Valverde
But looking a little further, stage 14 appears on the horizon, a day with a circuit of constant slopes, classic style of the Ardennes near Turin, in which good differences can be made and which not many talk about. “The Turin stage favors me, it is a stage that is quite good. The route is good, but I insist, we will go day by day”, admitted the Murcian, aware that this day could be important for him.
Once the Italian round is over, which Bala described as “beautiful” during these days, Valverde will enter the final stretch of his sports career, with a few final months of very defined calendars in which he will give his definitive goodbye in the Giro de Lombardia, monument to the height of his legendary career. “I don’t know exactly what my calendar will be after the Giro. The idea is to do La Vuelta, if everything goes well, the World Cup, and end up in Lombardy. Making my final career there would be very nice and it is a race that I like a lot,” said the Murcian about an appointment in which he was second in 2013, 2014 and 2019. “God willing, there are many years left to continue enjoying the bike,” concluded Bala about his retirement. If you do it with your arms up in The Classic of the Dead Leaves, There won’t be a better ending…