Se Nibali he admitted to having followed the presentation of the Giro with the eyes of a rider, Imagine what Alejandro Valverde, who will be on retreat with Movistar from Monday, could have said, before going to Japan to race the Tour circuits and then finally on holiday.
"I'm resting for what they're leaving me," he says in a hoarse voice from Spain. "I never stop. I go here and there, so many commitments. I still haven't realized that I've stopped, because as soon as the season started, it ended and you don't notice. When next year starts, then maybe I'll notice…».
Loot of 144 victories
Alejandro Valverde, a 42-year-old Spaniard from Murcia, stands 1,77 meters tall and weighs 61 kilos. Professional from 2002 to 2022, with 144 victories to his name, including 4 Liège, 5 Fleche Wallonne, the Vuelta and a world championship. In the end he chose to retire, including Nibali who is 4 years younger and Rebellin who is 9 years older.
"It was time to stop," he admits, "because there was no point in waiting any longer. But it is certain that Inside I feel capable of running for at least another yearThe fact is, it's not necessary. There are those who can't stop. I think I'll continue exercising, I don't want to change. I will continue to live as I do now, but without competitions and without stress.I may not have a goal to achieve, but my routine will be very similar to the one I have now."
Was sixth place at the Lombardy Cup a missed victory or a nice way to say goodbye?
The best way to say goodbye. Overall, of all the races I've done in Italy, the whole week we spent with you was a great one for me and the team. We really enjoyed it. The verb “disfrutar” has always been my rule.
Have you always succeeded?
Almost always. It's true that you suffer on the bike and sometimes you don't experience it as you would like., because maybe you're not happy and time isn't passing as you'd like. But overall, I've enjoyed 95 percent of my career..
Many riders at the end of their careers stop winning because they can no longer make the necessary sacrifices. How was that for you?
Cycling was a sacrifice, but it is of course it never cost me that muchI tolerated it quite well. The fact that I was taking care of myself made me feel good, if anything I felt bad when I couldn't do it.It gave me pleasure because I was doing things the right way and then all that remained was to prove it on the road. I liked watching myself at the table, for example.
Unzue talked about a role for you at Movistar in the future: what do you think?
For now we have the collection starts on Monday and I will be there tooWe'll define my role in the team. We'll see. I think it's important to be there, to follow the races. I could take care of the image within the team for the Telefonica group, we'll see.
It's been said that Mas paid the price for your absence at the Tour, do you think that's possible?
Many people told me about Mas, also Eusebio UnzueHaving me by his side may have brought him peace of mind, not just to him, but to the whole team. I don't know exactly what happened to him because I wasn't there.But it's certain that he had a very good chip change. After the Tour, he was already a different Enric.
You've won all or almost all of the major classics, including a Vuelta. Does that mean you could have been a Giro d'Italia man if you'd wanted to?
I've always liked the Vuelta a lot. Winning it allowed me to… prove that I could be a three-week riderNot only because I won it, but because I also achieved second places, a third, the podium at the Tour, several fourth places, third at the Giro. I was a classics rider, but also a grand tour rider, for always having been in the top ten.
Could you ever have put everything into one Giro for a year and not thought about anything else?
May. I couldn't have given up everything for just one GiroIt would have been difficult not to try to win other races like the classics. I wouldn't have liked focusing on a single goal all year. I don't like it, I have always preferred to fight for more goals. One race a year is not for Alejandro.
Did Liège or the World Cup in Innsbruck bring you more joy?
More the world cup than the first Liège. The World Cup is the victory that gave me the most happiness, which I enjoyed the most.
Pozzovivo said that to compete with today's very strong young players, he was forced to work much harder...
Me like him. Cycling is much more demanding than it used to beThe top level has risen, but so has the intermediate level. If you want to be competitive, You have to take much more care of yourself, you have to train more and rest moreYou have to do everything more than before.
And was it better before or now?
Cycling used to be different and I liked it. It's different now, but I like it better now..
At the finish line of your fourth Liège race, you pointed to the sky and dedicated it to Scarponi. A few years earlier, your team had said goodbye to Xavi Tondo. What was it like leaving friends behind?
The truth is that It's hard when you lose such good companions and friends., it's very sad. But that's life, sometimes the best comes and sometimes the worst. You have to face it as it comes. I had a lot of fun with them, we spent a good time together and I hope, wherever they are, may they continue to love us and enjoy watching us.
Are you going on vacation after next week's retreat?
We have a trip to Singapore, then to Tokyo for the criteriums, and it's just me and Natalia. Then we'll go to Costa Rica and the Giro de Rigo with the whole family. Everyone except Alejandro, who has a match. He likes football very.
Rather, what do they say at home about your choice to retire?
My children they would like me to run again. But they're happy that I'm finishing and I'm happy to spend more time with them.
Will you continue shaving your legs?
I will never grow body hair. I will continue to shave, I can't imagine my legs with long hairIt's ugly to see a cyclist with hair.
It will be strange to go to the races and no longer find Nibali and Valverde.
It may be strange for us too, but we all have to get used to the newWe'll get there, we get used to everything eventually.
Are you leaving with a good taste in your mouth?
The last few days have brought me so much joy. Because, as I said before, the sensations were very goodMine and the team's too. When someone feels good and is having fun, everything is fine. I tell myself: "Damn, I'm retiring with a great level and I could play another year."But it's better to retire like this and people remember you like someone who retired when he was still at the top, rather than remembering why you weren't moving forward.
A laugh. See you at the next races. Then, in the background, the boys' voices call him loudlyWelcome to your normal life, great “Bala,” it will always be a pleasure talking to you.
