MISANO ADRIATICO – Valverde has never shown any particular tension on the eve of an important race. Yet with the approach of the first World Cup from Spanish technician, the Murcian admits that a bit of nervousness is comingThat said, Alejandro is not a technician who harasses the riders, following them step by step. He went to the Return on the day of restHe will certainly return, but as a rider who is still (almost) active, He knows that at this point in the season there is little to plan for. The work was done at the beginning of the year and then over the summer: now it's just a matter of gathering the feelings and putting the puzzle together. The victories of Ayuso e Soler at the Vuelta they put the technical commissioner in a good mood, invited to theItalian Bike Festival da Canyon, of which he is a testimonial.
"Tell me something," he says, smiling. "Have you been vaccinated? I haven't, and I won't. Runners are free to choose." I don't have the final list yet, but I think they'll get there in the right place.Almost everyone I'll be bringing is competing in the Vuelta. I'll be back, but I've already been to Pamplona for the rest day. But above all, I will follow them on television and talk to them on the phone».
We're talking about the difficulty of selecting different teams for the World Cup and the European Championships. Will Spain bring the same players?
Some people want to do both, because the commitments are compatible. Maybe the time trial is a little too close to the road, but those are two different routes. The World Championship time trial It's very tough, 40 really demanding kilometers. The European time trial instead it is faster and shorter: it is 24 kilometers.
What do you think of the road world championships route?
It's crazy, very hard, very demanding. It is for the route, for the altitude and for the difference in altitudeYou pass the finish line many times, I think there will be very few riders at the finish, but whoever finishes will be the best. It's a World Championship where you have to arrive with a great desire to race.
Will it be Ayuso's Spain or are there others too?
I think the team is quite complete, but in the final the strongest man is certainly AyusoWe go with many dreams and a lot of desire.
What do you think about Ayuso's choice to leave the UAE?
It's his decision, I can't get involved. It's not good that the news came out during the Vuelta, because it involved everyone. Not only Juan, but also the UAE and Almeida, even if it doesn't show in the results, because they keep winning. But it's clear that it has had an impact in some way.
Would it have been a suitable route for a rider like Valverde?
I think it still would be (laughs, ed.). It might be suitable for me because there are no very long climbs and the finish is on a steep climb., with the cobblestones two kilometers from the finish.
How do you beat Pogacar?
Arriving before him (laughs again, ed.). You have to hope he has a bad day, because it can happen that he has a bad day.. Ultimately, he is human too, but we certainly can't base our race on that. We need to have a team strategy. Try to make him work at his best., things we will see during the race.
How was this first season as national team coach?
At first it was quiet. Everyone works with their team, they have a very busy schedule, so they can't disturb each other.Now everything is closer together, much more complicated. I can't say I'm excited, but I'm certainly a little nervous. When you're a rider, you're also nervous, but now it's different.I have enough support, but it can happen that things slip through the cracks. After all, the fact that it's my first World Cup also means I still have something to learn...
