- Place: Las Lumbreras, Murcia
- Birth: 25/04/1980
- Country: ESP
- Height: 177 Cm
- Weight: 61 Kg
- Pro debut: 2002
- Years in team: 13
- Career path:
2005-2018: Illes / Caisse / Movistar Team
2002-2004: Kelme
Alejandro Valverde
FROM AN INJURY, TO A RAINBOW DREAM. Seven months after his brutal crash in Düsseldorf, and following long months of recovery, Valverde was able to win again when many had called his career over. Albuixech (Valencia) –with only five days of racing in his legs- was the place he chose to raise his arms victorious again, a victory which portended yet another unforgettable season for him. His class and commitment have earned him accolades from the biggest names in the sport, from current rivals like Peter Sagan -“There won’t be any other one like him”- to legends such as Eddy Merckx, who also rooted for his success in Innsbruck. ‘Bala’ has finally achieved what he had deserved for so long: becoming World Champion.
122 WINS – 14 IN 2018. Even through this season will go into the history books due to his gold medal in the Worlds, one can’t forget about his achievements at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, the Abu Dhabi Tour, the Volta a Catalunya, the GP Miguel Indurain, the Route d’Occitanie and his two stage wins in the Vuelta a España –where he contested the overall success until the penultimate mountain stage-. Valverde, who already raised his arms with the rainbow jersey at the unofficial Saitama Criterium -ahead of reigning Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas-, will not settle with his current palmarès, and has already set his sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
UCI WORLD RANKING NO. 1 + VÉLO D’OR. Avenues and schools with his name, plenty of tributes and celebrations at home and abroad… the passion for the #BalaArcoíris has gone well outside the Spanish borders. Alejandro has always been a man subject to festivities honouring his legend, but the truth is that, after winning the World Championships, it has basically become one half of his daily routine, combined with his training. Only after the Worlds, he was recognised by the UCI as leader of the 2018 World Ranking, then received the Vélo d’Or prize as best rider of the season. Miguel Indurain and Alberto Contador were the only two Spanish riders to have also received that prize before Alejandro. Undoubtedly, 2018 has made justice with Alejandro’s efforts.
His biggest passion remains his family, who joins him at the finish of many races. His wife is Natalia; his four kids are called Iván, Alex (twins), Pablo and the youngest one, Natalia. A man loyal to his roots, he’s been born, raised and lives in Murcia (Las Lumbreras), and admits that, even if people around the world tries to make him comfortable wherever he goes, he wouldn’t feel as good in any other place rather than home.
His rivals’ parents when he was a young child called him ‘El Imbatido’ (‘The Unbeaten One’) because of his voracious character on the bike. He started racing at age 9, and from 11 to 14 years old he snatched 50 consecutive victories. The nickname he likes the most is a word game with his last name: ‘Balaverde’.
His endless palmarès doesn’t include the day he enjoyed the most on a bike. He always recalls his first Worlds appearance, in Hamilton (Canada), where he took silver behind compatriot Igor Astarloa. “It was really the achievement I hold dearest because of everything around that race”, he remembers.
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- Finally World Champion (Innsbruck, 2018).
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- A dream come true: the 2015 TDF podium.
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- 3rd in the 2016 Giro d’Italia, in his debut.
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- His first Grand Tour overall success (2009 Vuelta).
Palmares
127 Victories as professional
1st (7th stage) Vuelta a España 2019
1st Spanish Road Race Championship 2019
1st Route d'Occitanie 2019
1st (1st stage) Route d'Occitanie 2019
1st (3rd stage) UAE Tour 2019
1st World Road Race Championships 2018
1st (8th stage) Vuelta a España 2018
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a España 2018
1st Route d'Occitanie 2018
1st (3rd stage) Route d'Occitanie 2018
1st GP Miguel Indurain 2018
1st Volta a Catalunya 2018
1st (4th stage) Volta a Catalunya 2018
1st (2nd stage) Volta a Catalunya 2018
1st Abu Dhabi Tour 2018
1st (5th stage) Abu Dhabi Tour 2018
1st Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018
1st (4th stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018
1st (2nd stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018
1st Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2017
1st Flèche Wallonne 2017
1st Vuelta al País Vasco 2017
1st (5th stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2017
1st Volta a Catalunya 2017
1st (7th stage) Volta a Catalunya 2017
1st (5th stage) Volta a Catalunya 2017
1st (3rd stage) Volta a Catalunya 2017
1st Vuelta a Andalucía 2017
1st (1st stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2017
1st Vuelta a Murcia 2017
1st (16th stage) Giro d'Italia 2016
1st Flèche Wallonne 2016
1st Vuelta a Castilla y León 2016
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2016
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2016
1st Vuelta a Andalucía 2016
1st (5th stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2016
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a España 2015
1st Spanish RR Championships 2015
1st Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2015
1st Flèche Wallonne 2015
1st (7th stage) Volta a Catalunya 2015
1st (5th stage) Volta a Catalunya 2015
1st (2nd stage) Volta a Catalunya 2015
1st Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana 2015
1st (6th stage) Vuelta a España 2014
1st Clásica San Sebastián 2014
1st Spanish RR Championships 2014
1st Flèche Wallonne 2014
1st GP Miguel Indurain 2014
1st Roma Maxima 2014
1st Vuelta a Murcia 2014
1st Vuelta a Andalucía 2014
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2014
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2014
1st (1st stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2014
1st Vuelta a Andalucía 2013
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2013
1st (1st stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2013
1st Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana 2013
1st (8th stage) Vuelta a España 2012
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a España 2012
1st (17th stage) Tour de France 2012
1st (3rd stage) Paris-Nice 2012
1st Vuelta a Andalucía 2012
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a Andalucía 2012
1st (5th stage) Tour Down Under 2012
1st Vuelta a España 2009
1st Vuelta a Burgos 2009
1st Critérium du Dauphiné 2009
1st Volta a Catalunya 2009
1st (3rd stage) Volta a Catalunya 2009
1st Klasika Primavera 2009
1st (5th stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2009
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2009
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a España 2008
1st Clásica San Sebastián 2008
1st (6th stage) Tour de France 2008
1st (1st stage) Tour de France 2008
1st Spanish RR Championships 2008
1st Critérium du Dauphiné 2008
1st (3rd stage) Critérium du Dauphiné 2008
1st (1st stage) Critérium du Dauphiné 2008
1st Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2008
1st Paris-Camembert 2008
1st Vuelta a Murcia 2008
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a Murcia 2008
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a Burgos 2007
1st (3rd stage) Clásica de Alcobendas 2007
1st Vuelta a Murcia 2007
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a Murcia 2007
1st Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2007
1st (7th stage) Vuelta a España 2006
1st (4th stage) Tour de Romandie 2006
1st Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2006
1st Flèche Wallonne 2006
1st (1st stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2006
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a Murcia 2006
1st (10th stage) Tour de France 2005
1st (4th stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2005
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2005
1st (7th stage) Paris-Nice 2005
1st Trofeo Sóller 2005
1st Trofeo Manacor 2005
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a España 2004
1st Vuelta a Burgos 2004
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Burgos 2004
1st (2nd stage) Vuelta a Burgos 2004
1st (1st stage) Vuelta a Burgos 2004
1st (5th stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2004
1st (4th stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2004
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Castilla y León 2004
1st Klasika Primavera 2004
1st (1st stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2004
1st Vuelta a Murcia 2004
1st Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2004
1st (3rd stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2004
1st (2nd stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2004
1st Trofeo Cala Millor 2004
1st (15th stage) Vuelta a España 2003
1st (9th stage) Vuelta a España 2003
1st Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Klasika 2003
1st (5th stage) Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho 2003
1st (4th stage) Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho 2003
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta a Aragón 2003
1st Klasika Primavera 2003
1st (3rd stage) Vuelta al País Vasco 2003
Other results
2nd WORLD RR CHAMP. 2005
2nd IL LOMBARDIA 2013
2nd VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2012
3rd GIRO D’ITALIA 2016
3rd TOUR DE FRANCE 2015
1st REGULARIDAD VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2015
Results
2019
84 Days of Racing
13584.8 Km covered
1st (7th stage) Vuelta a España
1st Spanish Championships RR
1st (1st stage) Route d'Occitanie
1st Route d'Occitanie
1st (3rd stage) UAE Tour
2nd GP Beghelli
2nd Vuelta a España
2nd (20th stage) Tour de France
2nd (3rd stage) Route d'Occitanie
2nd (2nd stage) Volta a Catalunya
2nd UAE Tour
2nd (2nd stage) Vuelta a Murcia
2nd Vuelta a Murcia
2nd (4th stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2nd Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2nd Milano-Torino
2nd Il Lombardia
2nd (20th stage) Vuelta a España
3rd (18th stage) Vuelta a España
3rd (3rd stage) Challenge Mallorca
4th (1st stage) Vuelta a Murcia
4th (1st stage) Challenge Mallorca
4th (3rd stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
4th (13th stage) Vuelta a España
4th (9th stage) Vuelta a España
5th (19th stage) Vuelta a España
5th Giro dell'Emilia
5th (6th stage) UAE Tour
5th (7th stage) Volta a Catalunya
5th (5th stage) Vuelta a España
7th Milano-Sanremo
8th (4th stage) UAE Tour
8th Ronde van Vlaanderen
8th (1st stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
9th (15th stage) Tour de France
9th Tour de France
9th (15th stage) Vuelta a España
10th (2nd stage) Vuelta a España
10th Clásica San Sebastián
10th (2nd stage) Challenge Mallorca
10th Volta a Catalunya
11th Flèche Wallonne
12th (14th stage) Tour de France
12th (2nd stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
13th (4th stage) Volta a Catalunya
13th (10th stage) Vuelta a España
13th (19th stage) Tour de France
14th (2nd stage) Route d'Occitanie
14th (4th stage) Route d'Occitanie
14th (13th stage) Tour de France
15th (1st stage) Volta a Catalunya
15th (6th stage) Vuelta a España
17th (21th stage) Tour de France
17th (12th stage) Vuelta a España
17th (4th stage) Vuelta a España
18th (16th stage) Vuelta a España
19th (21th stage) Vuelta a España
19th (18th stage) Tour de France
21th (2nd stage) UAE Tour
22th (5th stage) Volta a Catalunya
23th (3rd stage) Vuelta a España
25th (6th stage) Volta a Catalunya
25th (5th stage) Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
26th (11th stage) Vuelta a España
27th (3rd stage) Volta a Catalunya
27th (10th stage) Tour de France
29th (17th stage) Vuelta a España
29th (6th stage) Tour de France
30th (3rd stage) Tour de France
31th (8th stage) Tour de France
31th Dwars door Vlaanderen
31th (7th stage) UAE Tour
32th (16th stage) Tour de France
36th (12th stage) Tour de France
41th (5th stage) UAE Tour
43th (17th stage) Tour de France
47th (11th stage) Tour de France
49th (8th stage) Vuelta a España
51th (14th stage) Vuelta a España
56th (5th stage) Tour de France
61th (9th stage) Tour de France
64th (7th stage) Tour de France
65th Amstel Gold Race
67th (1st stage) Tour de France
73th (4th stage) Tour de France
Vuelta a España
Lo ha sido todo en La Vuelta. La ganó en 2009; ha vestido todos sus maillots de líder; tiene nueve triunfos de etapa, con una década de separación entre el primero y el último; y en sus carreteras ha disfrutado y hecho feliz a muchos aficionados. Sus doce presencias en la carrera han sido pura expresión del amor que siente por la bici y por una carrera a la que guarda siempre un cariño especial.
Será una carrera distinta para el ‘Bala’, plenamente enfocado en preparar un Mundial de Innsbruck en el que el murciano tiene puestas muchas de sus esperanzas para redondear un palmarés de leyenda. Sin presión de ningún tipo tras sus 11 victorias en la primavera, Alejandro gozará de muchas oportunidades para el lucimiento personal y la preparación de una cita austríaca adecuada para los escaladores, si es que el propio desarrollo de la Vuelta no le ubica en pos de objetivos mayores.
Calendario previo (56 días de competición) > Challenge Mallorca (40º + 3º + 4º); Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (1º + 2 etapas); Vuelta a Murcia (2º); Abu Dhabi Tour (1º + 1 etapa); Volta a Catalunya (1º + 2 etapas); A Través de Flandes (11º); GP Miguel Indurain (1º); Amorebieta (2º); Ardenas (5º + 2º + 13º); Route d’Occitanie (1º + 1 etapa); Campeonatos de España (4º + 2º); Tour de Francia (14º).
Apariciones anteriores en la Vuelta > 2016: 12º. 2015: 7º + 1 etapa. 2014: 3º + 1 etapa. 2013: 3º. 2012: 2º + 2 etapas. 2009: 1º. 2008: 5º + 1 etapa. 2006: 2º + 1 etapa. 2004: 4º + 1 etapa. 2003: 3º + 2 etapas.