Where there's Valverde, there's definitely Escamez. A bit like Pellets when Nibali is there. Juan Carlos Escamez is a year younger than Alejandro and was a rider himself. Except that, having arrived at the door of a training camp with Kelme, he saw everything end because of Operacion Puerto. The team closed and many riders found themselves on foot. When you remind him that his friend Valverde has long been a rival, he smiles with a hint of nostalgia.
«I'm at the Movistar Team with him since 2012 – he says – ten years now. First we were rivals, then teammates in the same amateur team, finally we found ourselves hereHe as a professional cyclist and I as a masseur. I beat him a few times. Not many times, but I did it. When we were younger, as rookies and students. If you reached the sprint with him, you were finished.He was the rival to beat and we had to break away from him early. Alejandro at that time had a different physiognomy, a little heavierWe still joke about it today, we're basically friends. We remember stories from back then and laugh..."
What is Valverde's secret?
His innate class, his mentality and his passion for cycling. At his age, the mind counts much more than the physiqueThey've been telling him for years to lower his expectations, but he keeps raising them.
How is Valverde on the massage table?
It depends on the situation. There are times when you have to go deep, others when you can be light.. When it comes to massage, it's how you see it. Alejandro is a transparent man and I immediately understand what he needs. He's very friendly, we immediately connect, and we have a really good time during the massage.
What was the best moment of these 10 years?
The world cup. It was undoubtedly the realization of a dream that had been building up over many years. A justice that cycling granted him.We were convinced we had a great opportunity, and it came at a great time. The circuit was perfect. Our teammates all had the same idea for the race, and in the end, everything worked out. It's very difficult for things to go exactly as you plan, but we managed it.
What did you think when he came to hug you?
Pride. I was very lucky to be the firstBut behind that embrace (opening photo, ed.) was that of an entire country. It was something long-awaited. For me, it was exciting.
Were there any bad moments?
In sports you know that Winning is difficult and things don't always go wellBut the important thing is that when bad days come, you have the ability to turn things around. Keep going, thinking about the next goal. Bad days happen, but you have to know how to manage them.
In 2017 he also had a fractured kneecap…
He lost a lot of muscle mass and it took a long time to find the balance againBut he shortened the time a lot. Doctors say he did in one month what others would have done in three.He worked hard and was tenacious.
When did he tell you he was retiring?
Earlier this year. It's something we've always talked about. Obviously, it's his decision. One has to retire when one is at the top. It's better to end when people know who you are and not remember who you were.
How are you doing at the Giro these days?
He's doing well, despite his 42 years. He continues to set goals. He arrived here against different opponents than he had in the Ardennes and continues to be at a top level.. He's doing very well. Italy loves him and he knows it.
Are you still dating?
Sometimes yes (laughs, ed.), when he goes very slowly. It's a privilege. When he goes out in Murcia, he usually finds a lot of people accompanying himA fairly large group. But when he has to do important training or some work, he goes alone or with a small group of select people. I was lucky enough to follow him and I hope to have other opportunities after he retires.Get it out of your head that he'll stop cycling. It's a passion for him, he'll pedal even more than he does now...
