Movistar Team Captain and Vuelta veteran, Alejandro Valverde, kicked off his fifteenth Spanish Tour with hopes of a strong performance in what he had previously promised would be his final GT. But on Stage 7, with “El Bala” on the attack in the final 40km, a small bump followed by a loss of control took Valverde off course and ultimately out of the race. We spoke with Jose Joaquín Rojas, Alejandro’s teammate, as well as Valverde himself to find out what that moment meant as well as what the future holds for the grand Spanish champion.
JOSE JOAQUÍN ROJAS
What were your thoughts when you first saw that Alejandro had crashed?
I first saw his bike, and then I saw Alejandro on the embankment, trying to climb with one hand because he was holding his shoulder with the other. My first thought was to help him.
He kept repeating to me, “It hurts a lot! It hurts a lot!” and instinctively, I took his hand and pulled him back over the barrier, back onto the roadside.
Alejandro told me, “I have a broken collarbone! I have a broken collarbone!” and so I looked at it.
After looking at it, I told him that the collarbone wasn’t broken—at least at first glance, he didn’t seem to have a displaced fracture.
Of course, we discovered after the x-rays that his collarbone had a compound fracture, but it was impossible to see it at the time.
What was your first reaction?
The first sensation I felt was a tremendous pain for Alejandro because he is a great friend before being a great rider.
The truth is, you are never ready to see your captain suffer—the same person you have supported and supported throughout your sporting life.
When I passed that corner and saw his bike on the side of the road, I immediately stopped, but was still thinking that nothing serious had happened. But then I found Alejandro almost impassive, immobile, white in the face, and my first thought was that I had to help him.
Who announced the crash on the radio?
Enric announced that Alejandro had fallen – “Caida Bala! Caida Bala! Caida Bala!” – because both were leading the peloton. When Bala attacked, Enric was immediately behind him and was the first to notice the fall.
What were your feelings following the official withdrawal?
When I learned that he had withdrawn from the race, I was sad because we had lost one of our captains in that moment.
But then, when I learned that he only had a broken collarbone, I felt very relieved because I know he can recover quickly from a broken collarbone! Three days and El Bala would be on the bike again.
ALEJANDRO VALVERDE
Can you describe the moment of the crash?
Thinking back to the moment of the accident, I think it was a shame. I’m not saying I was relaxed at the time, but I was descending without any issues.
I tackled the curve normally, as I would have done at any other time, even in training, with my arms relaxed, but I didn’t notice that there was a small crack on the asphalt that I hadn’t seen.
I got a kickback on my arm, and my hand lost its grip on the handlebars. It slipped and I lost the bike’s balance, which slid to the side of the road where everyone saw the scene.
The thing that most impressed me, after having reviewed the images the next day at home, was realizing how little room was left between where I stopped and falling into the ravine, and the crash becoming much more severe than it was.
What did you say to JJ Rojas in that moment?
After I fell, I immediately got up and began to see the whole group and support cars pass me. In the meantime, I was shouting on the radio, “I’m here! I am here!” and at one point, JJ Rojas appeared.
Rojas told me, “Give me your hand!” and I said to him, “Rojas, I can only give you my left because I can’t move my right!”
I felt that I had broken something, even though I didn’t know at that exact moment what was broken – whether it was the collarbone or not – because when I’d broken my collarbone in the past, I was unable to move in any way.
But I knew that indeed something, maybe the scapula, or the shoulder, was broken. Rojas helped me up the slope, looked at my back, my shoulder, and kept saying, “Cheer up! Power!”
The truth is that I couldn’t help but get back on the bike at that moment, despite the pain, because when you have a partner there, who has stopped for you, who is helping you and motivating you, you can’t help but find the strength to start again. It’s one of the most motivating things, even when you have something broken.
What were your thoughts when you decided to end your Vuelta?
When I decided to withdraw, I first felt great regret for myself, a great regret because I knew I was in good shape.
And then, great regret for my teammates because I knew we had high expectations for this Vuelta, and until that moment, everything was going for the best. When I crashed, I was attacking, and we would undoubtedly have been able to create a big fight on that day’s stage. I am sure that if I had made it to Santiago, we would have fought until the last day.
Tell us about your plans. Are you focused on the Worlds?
Surely I will still be present at the races before the end of the season. Indeed, you will see me competing again. I will not be at the start of the World Championships, even if I like the course a lot, but my teammates from the Spanish National Team are certainly more suited to the Belgian course than me. I would like to be at the start of the Giro di Sicilia, four days to train, then to Milan, Turin and finally to Lombardy. I know I’m not at my best, but I’ll do my best to be competitive as always.
We wish Alejandro Valverde a speedy recovery and can’t wait to see him back racing again soon.
In celebration of the launch of our latest Movistar Team edition road racing shoe, the Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave, we take a look back at our previous collaborations with one of the UCI World Tour’s most successful racing teams and ask team riders what they look for in a performance racing shoe and what they’re looking forward to as the 2020 season gets underway. Following the delayed kick-off of the 2020 racing calendar, Movistar Team are back in familiar territory as riders continue the team’s four-decade tradition, having just taken to the starting line at Strade Bianche. As they do so, riders like Gabriel Cullaigh, Juri Hollmann, Marc Soler and others share more than just team colours in common: they all ride in the latest Movistar edition fizik racing shoe: The Movistar Team Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave. New in bold Movistar blue, the Vento Powertrap R2 Aeroweave is a lightweight, highly ventilated performance road racing shoe built around our stiffest R2 outsole. The Vento Powerstrap R2 delivers immediate energy transfer from the leg to the pedals, just what’s needed for intense sprints across the finish. The woven wonder of Aeroweave interlaces nylon fibres with filaments of thermoplastic polymer to combine breathability with weight saving construction for unrivalled race day functionality, while the Powerstrap rounds out performance for a perfect, secure fit every time. Yet a shoe this powerful doesn’t happen by chance. It comes as the next step in an ongoing relationship with some of cycling’s strongest riders and follows prior tour-leading collaborations with the Movistar team, such as the Infinito R1 Knit and the Vento Powerstrap R1 as well as the Infinito R1 Movistar team-edition shoe, which won last year‘s Giro D’italia and Spanish Championship. With their class-leading comfort and performance, it’s no wonder that these fizik shoes can still be found on the feet of top team riders today. Choosing the right shoe to take to the highest levels of cycling competition is a serious choice, and a deeply personal one. That’s why with the latest Movistar Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave, as with all our previous team shoes and entire Vento range, we combined the knowledge and expertise of fizik with the desires and demands of the pros that wear them. Sharing what brought them to the new R2, riders let us in on what they look for in a racing shoe, as well as what they are looking forward to during this season’s races. As Movistar Team rider Marc Soler describes the new racing shoes, “Since I first tried the Aeroweaves, I have had a new favourite pair of shoes for the summer. Breathable and very light, they allow my foot not to suffer too much from the heat.” Elaborating on what drew him to the new R2, he adds, “In a shoe I look for comfort and performance, a shoe that allows me to be able to express myself both uphill and in the sprint. And the carbon sole of these new shoes is perfect. Moreover, the strap is rigid and does not yield. Therefore, it’s perfect for sprint arrivals. As always, fizik manages to reconcile aesthetics and performance.” As a new recruit to Movistar, Enric Mas has had an unusual first season with the team. When asked what he is most looking forward to as racing restarts, he shared his thoughts: “It’s my first season with Movistar, and I never thought it would take so long to arrive. I am very motivated, and I can’t wait to race the great Summer Classics. The season is starting again in a very different, more controlled way. But I’ve never been so happy to start over.” As for experienced team leader and current Spanish Road Champion, Alejandro Valverde, even with a condensed calendar, he’s staying focused on the road to victory. “I am looking forward to running again. After so many weeks away from racing, I have the right motivation to return to racing at my best. A special eye for me always goes to the Tour and also to the World Championship. A bit like two years ago, I really like the path. I want to fully enjoy these three months of racing.” As racing returns with riders in top shape and equipment dialled to meet the season’s demands, we invite you to join Movistar Team in their pursuit of victory with the Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave racing shoe—available exclusively at fizik.com. Credits: Bagan Fotografia Huge congratulations to Movistar Team, winners of the Team Classification at the 2019 Tour de France. With three riders, Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana, and World Champion Alejandro Valverde finishing in the top 10, ably supported by teammates Marc Soler, Imanol Erviti, Nelson Oliveira, Andrey Amador and Carlos Verona, Movistar Team were the clear winners in the competition. Riding Infinito R1 Movistar Team and Antares 00, Nairo put in a masterful solo stage win in the Alps, showing a return to his scintillating best form in the mountains on the Stage 18 Valloire. Meanwhile, Mikel was a consistent aggressor and won the Combativity Award for his exploits on the Stage 15 Prat d’Albis, while evergreen Alejandro proved the strongest of super domestiques throughout the race to earn his top ten finish at the age of 39 years. We are incredibly proud of all 2019 Tour de France Movistar Team riders! Movistar Team’s Richard Carapaz claimed a stage victory for the second consecutive Giro d’Italia with an unlikely stage win in Frascati on a 235km course that had been expected to result in a bunch sprint. He, and Team Jumbo-Visma’s General Classification leader Primož Roglič took their opportunities when they found themselves on the “right side” of another late crash on stage 4 that caused splits in the peloton. A group of six riders – including the Ecuadorian and the Slovenian –broke away in the last kilometres of what became a chaotic stage finish. Carapaz knew that the six included sprinters and was brave to time his move perfectly at only 400m out, after almost 6 hours of racing, to hold off a late effort by fast-man Caleb Ewan. 25-year-old Carapaz took his second Grand Tour win, and Roglič saw his GC lead grow from 19 seconds to 35, as some of his main rivals were held up in the aftermath of the crash, including Movistar Team’s Mikel Landa who dropped 36 seconds. 29-year-old Roglič retains the Maglia Rosa that he earned with his convincing win on Stage 1 in an unusually short Individual Time Trial, featuring steep climbs in the last 2 of its 8km, up to the San Luca sanctuary just outside Bologna. As well as putting down the power on that opening stage he has shown the wisdom to stay out of trouble on the following days – all part of the craft of a serious GC contender, which is exactly what Roglič looks right now! It’s been an exciting and unpredictable opening four stages, with no doubt lots more drama to some before we reach Verona on 2nd June. The mercury is rising ahead of the ‘grande partenza’ of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday 11th May. The 102nd edition of the Corsa Rosa immediately pitches the riders into its relentlessly combative route, with the first of three Individual Time Trials, an 8km test from Bologna up to the hilltop San Luca sanctuary to claim the year’s first Maglia Rosa. 21 stages later the riders reach Verona – with so much to be won or lost along the 3,518.5km route. The General Classification fight will be fierce, but as this year’s race, almost entirely ridden in Italy, also features six mountain stages with around 46,500m of climbing, the Points and Mountains classifications will make for epic battles. The updated start lists are submitted to the race organisers – here’s what to expect: Team Jumbo-Visma ’s Primož Roglič was recently reminiscing with media about his days as a fan, watching the 2013 Giro from the roadside. Back then the Colombian was riding for Team Sky, on a fizik Aliante saddle, and looking for a GC podium, now it’s the Solvenian’s turn on his Antares 00. And it’s the three time trials combined with the climbing that could well play into the 29-year-old’s favor. While the Italian riders will naturally attract the most of the fans’ attention, this year’s route pushes the riders north-east in the final week, closer to Roglic’s homeland. Team Ineos’ roster of riders remains constant from the Team Sky days, but the leadership of its first Grand Tour team is unfamiliar, youthful and exciting. With Chris Froome electing not to defend his title, Geraint Thomas also concentrating on the Tour de France, and the highly talented 22-year-old Colombian Egan Bernal – who was expected to lead for the Giro 102 – suffering the misfortune of a broken collarbone, it’s a serendipitous opportunity for a young duo sharing the helm of the GC charge for the 102nd Giro: Pavel Sivakov, 21-year-old Russian winner of April’s five-stage Tour of the Alps, and the British rider with whom he combined so successfully in that race, Tao Geoghegan Hart: the 24-year-old came second overall, having picked up two stage wins. Movistar Team’s line-up also features a late change. With World Champion Alejandro Valverde, who was initially planned to be a GC lead, forced to withdraw as he recovers from injuries sustained in a crash on his 39th birthday, leadership duties fall solely to the Spaniard’s compatriot Mikel Landa, who is hoping for a return to his brilliant best form, after a tough 2018. Landa has previously hit the final GC podium at the Giro, as well as winning three individual stages and the Mountains Classification; and there is no doubt that his motivation is high to regain the winning feeling for himself and team team. AG2R La Mondiale have decided to keep their powder dry on their most experienced General Classification campaigner, Romain Bardet, enabling him to focus purely on riding the Tour de France this season, rather than compete the Giro d’Italia as well. So after fighting eight Tours de France, 30-year-old Tony Gallopin is set to start the Corsa Rosa for the first time, as the GC leader. Having already achieved stage wins at the Tour and Vuelta, he’d love to ‘complete the set’, although the stage hunting may come from elsewhere in his predominantly French pack: Alexis Vuillermoz is a dangerous puncheur and one to watch. There will also be poignancy in the 2019 Giro, with a number of riders wearing special edition shoes – called Infinito R1 19 19 – that commemorate the centenary of the historic 1919 edition. Their eye-catching design includes a reflective material – see if you can spot them. The 103rd edition of de Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders – takes place on Sunday 7th April, 270.1km of parcours featuring a staggering 17 hills and five stretches of pave. It’s the second monument of the season after March’s Milan-Sanremo where AGR2 La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen and Team Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski finished second and third, respectively. The riders ‘enjoy’ their first taste of the cobbles after 80km on the Lippenhovenstraat and Paddestraat. The cobbled climb up Oude Kwaremont makes its first appearance after 120km and then, with around 170km on the clock, the riders hit the Wall of Geraardsbergen. The legendary 1km ascent maxes out at 20% before cresting beside the iconic chapel. The closing Paterberg is only 360m long but averages 12.9%, peaks at 20.3% and could decide the race. But which of cycling’s hardmen will win? You can’t ignore 2017 winner Philippe Gilbert (he was wearing R1B shoes then and rides Infinito R1 now) who would love to improve on his third place last year, albeit abandoning through sickness in Wednesday’s Dwars doors Vlaanderen casts doubts. As for other leading contenders… Movistar Team’s World Champion Alejandro Valverde is making his Flanders debut. The 38-year-old suggests his inexperience on the pave might prevent victory but cycling is nothing if not unpredictable. And, of course, El Bala will have experienced Belgian teammate Jurgen Roelandts alongside him. Nelson Oliveira also showed good form attacking at Dwars doors Vlaanderen. Luke Rowe heads into Flanders for Team Sky, looking strong at Dwars doors Vlaanderen. The longer distance – 270.1km versus 182km – could play into the Welshman’s hands. He’ll be supported by the likes of Gianni Moscon and Christian Knees. Wout van Aert only joined the Dutch Team Jumbo-Visma on 1st March but has already finished sixth at Milan-San Remo, third at Strade Bianche and second at the E3 BinckBank Classic. It’s why many have the three-time Cyclocross World Champion as their favorite. It’d be one of the most remarkable stories in the history of cycling if the 24-year-old can claim the Flanders crown. AG2R La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen’s third at Gent-Wevelgem is proof of the Belgian’s form. Aligned with the fact 69 of the previous editions of Tour of Flanders have been won by a Belgian, it’s clear to see why many are tipping the 28-year-old as the man to beat. His powerful team includes the experienced Tony Gallopin and Silvan Dillier. The 110th edition of La Primavera – “the spring” – is almost upon us. On Saturday 23 March, Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the year, will be contested by some of the world’s best riders from all of the world’s best teams. It’s a unique event that holds a special status for riders and fans alike. At 291km it’s the longest one-day race on the calendar, and after the classic sequence of the “Capi” – Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta – the last of its hill is the Poggio, at just 5km to go. The final 2km are on flat, smooth tarmac, allowing the ‘fast wheels’ opportunities ahead of the finish line on the Via Rome in San Remo. With or without help from the weather it tests all types of riders – and presents chances for all kinds of specialists. The last three editions have seen the winner decided by a solo breakaway, a group breakaway and a bunch sprint. So it’s understandable that the teams all take a different strategy, and a squad to reflect that. It’s often also a hugely interesting tactical battle, and a race where teamwork can pay off… Michal Kwiatkowski, for example, always considers his 2017 triumph to be a victory for Team Sky. Kwiatkowski won Strade-Bianche that year on the way to Milan-Sanremo and this year his preparation was being part of the successful Paris-Nice campaign that saw a podium 1-2-3 for Team Sky’s Egan Bernal, Movistar Team’s Nairo Quintana and Kwiatkowski. Elsewhere, the other ‘warm-up’ races saw Team Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert claim a ‘White Roads’ podium spot and his teammate Primoz Roglic storm to his second stage race GC win of the year at Tirreno-Adriatico. Here’s who to look out for in the squads: Movistar Team lead with World Champion Alejandro Valverde and feature the experienced Classics specialist Jurgen Roelandts. Team Jumbo-Visma have drafted in sprinter Dylan Groenewegen (winner of the first two stages at Paris-Nice) in place of the injured Timo Roosen, alongside Belgain Wout van Aert. For Team Sky, look out for Kwiatkowski. And many people are excited to see what Romain Bardet can do at Milan-Sanremo after his steady GC 5th position at Paris-Nice for AG2R La Mondiale. The seven-day “Race of the Two Seas” is a hugely popular event, with the WorldTour’s best riders competing in the beautiful yet challenging race from Italy’s west coast to its east coast. This year’s edition – the 54th, running from 13 to 19 March – boasts a start list that’s a who’s who of current cycling greats set to fight for the Neptune’s Trident trophy. And this year’s race just got even harder with route modifications that include a series of tough climbs – “muri” (walls) – through central Italy. The traditional Tirreno-Adriatico time trials are retained – starting with a TTT and ending with an ITT – along with sprinter stages, but the new punchy climbs add another dimension to the stage hunters and the overall General Classification competition. Some of the riders will have competed Strade Bianche and many combine it with the long one-day Milano-Sanremo race the following weekend. Many use it as a springboard for the Giro d’Italia… Watch out for these riders Some commentators are so impressed with Primoz Roglic’s form – particularly at the UAE Tour right across TT, sprint, climbing and of course his convincing GC crown – that they have him as favorite for Tirreno-Adriatico. Of course it might not be that simple, but with a super Team Jumbo-Visma squad including the big Dutch engines Robert Gesink, Jos van Emden, German TT master Tony Martin and exciting young Belgian Laurens De Plus, the Dutch outfit could conceivably win on all fronts. Team Sky’s Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas will be looking for another podium, but won’t be looking up to Michal Kwiatkowski – the pole does not return to defend the title he won last year. Instead, look for stage wins and domestique support duties from Gianni Moscon and Wout Poels. Even without double Tirreno-Adriatico winner Nairo Quintana, who heads to Paris-Nice, the Movistar Team list includes Spaniard José Rojas, Ecuadorian climbing machine Richard Carapaz and Portuguese powerhouse Nelson Oliviera. AG2R La Mondiale’s seven-man squad includes the young German Nico Denz and the combative Swiss Silvan Dillier alongside Frenchmen Alexis Vuillermoz and Clement Venturini. Leading the line for Cofidis is French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni, with support from his compatriot Julien Simon amongst others including the Eritraen all-rounder Natnael Berhane and the Belgian Kenneth Van. The first Italian WorldTour race on the calendar, to truly open the 2019 campaign, Tuscany’s ‘emerging classic’, Strade Bianche has quickly become a fixture on the early season calendar that riders target and fans eagerly anticipate. This year’s edition is on Saturday 9 March. Amongst the Spring Classics that test riders and machines with their cobbles, Strade Bianche throws the curveball challenge of multiple gravel and sand sectors, along with climbs. These non-asphalt sectors are the “white roads” that give the race its name – and unmistakable appearance, as the harshness of the race is juxtaposed with the beauty of the Tuscan landscape. Along with the gravel, grit and sand under the riders’ tires the early March weather often plays a part in the story. Wind, rain, hail and even snow has helped Strade Bianche create not just a tough race, but the opportunity for images that last long on the retina and the camera lens… there’s simply nothing quite like it. Another image that the racers and fans alike all value is in the race’s host city, the unique charm of Siena. It’s not just the dusty, roads that make Strade Bianche iconic – it’s the close association with this very special start and finish location. After the riders climb the Via Santa Caterina, the finish at the world famous mediaeval square – the Piazza del Campo – is a selfie waiting to happen. First staged in 2007, Strade Bianche achieved UCI WorldTour status in 2017. The 2019 men’s route is 184km long with 11 gravel sectors, totalling around 63km. It’s hard race, so the teams pack talent into their squads: Who to watch Movistar Team blend experience with pace and power in their seven-rider men’s line-up, with explosive Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz and Colombian Classics danger-man Carlos Betancur flanked by Portuguese Nelson Oliviera and Spaniards José Rojas and Eduard Prades. In the 136km Women’s WorldTour race, featuring 31.4km of gravel, Movistar Women Team’s six riders are led by the experienced French road champion Aude Biannic and Spanish former cyclocross champ Alicia Gonzalez. Although Michal Kwiatkowski isn’t going for a record-equalling third Strade Bianche win this year, the Team Sky pack is filled with aces, with 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas looking to embellish his strong Classics record in his Strade Bianche debut, and in-form Gianni Moscon ready to impress on home soil. Team Jumbo-Visma have sent their new Belgian cyclocross ace Wout van Aert to Tuscany, where he was part of the exciting 2018 podium breakaway. The former CX World Champion feels at home on any surface, and expects robust support from Danny van Poppel amongst others. While there’s no Bardet this year for AG2R La Mondiale, their lead Frenchman is the hugely talented Tour de France White Jersey Pierre Latour. The squad includes Silvan Dillier – a real Swiss Army knife of a rider – who has what it takes to make an impact on the Classics. As the road season gathers momentum, established and emerging fizik riders are finding superb early season performances around the globe – here are the brief highlights from the weekend. COLOMBIAN CLIMBERS With exciting ‘home’ riders and support from their European team-mates, the Tour Colombia provided a thrilling spectacle. It culminated in a Colombian 1-2 thanks to a solo final mountain stage win for Movistar Team’s Nairo Quintana eight seconds up the road from Team Sky’s Ivan Sosa. The 21-year-old missed out on GC victory by just 4 seconds but won the mountains classification and ignited the crowds alongside his 22-year-old team-mate Egan Bernal. RAINBOW STRIPES STEPS UP In Spain, at the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia Costa Cálida, it was a smiling Alejandro Valverde who took to the second step of the podium both for the second stage and for the Overall. The 38-year-old World Champion broke away from the lead group with 15km to go on the Vuelta Murcia’s second and final stage, along with his 35-year-old compatriot Luis Leon Sanchez. El Bala went solo from the top of the final climb but was reeled in by his friend and rival – the old adversaries embracing after crossing the finish line. PROVENÇAL PERFORMANCES The four-stage Tour de La Provence was a happy hunting ground for both the most experienced hands, and the young riders. Team Sky’s new 22-year-old Italian signing Filippo Ganna used his track experience to take the opening time trial – before handing over to Movistar Team’s Spanish new recruit Eduard Prades who won Stage 2’s sprint from AG2R-La Mondial’s Tony Gallopin. Stage 3 went to the 36-year-old Belgian former World Champion Philippe Gilbert, outsprinting the group on France’s famous Paul Ricard motor racing circuit. And on the fourth and final stage in Aix-en-Provence it was Gallopin who wrote his own headlines: earning a one-second bonus on the first intermediate sprint meant that his Stage 1 TT effort was enough to claim a GC podium by just 13 hundredths of a second, and second in the Points competition.
