At 35, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) is in admired in the cycling world for his ability to stay competitive from February to October. He again demonstrated that ability in 2015 as he had 91 days of racing, more than ever, from January 29 in Mallorca until October 11 in Abu Dhabi. He was in the top 10 47 times and 23 times on the podium.

The number one in the WorldTour offers his view on rest and training in an interview with Global Sport Coach website, telling that before traveling to the United States to compete in the World Championships, he had “2 or 3 days of rest and then I’m back on my bike to not lose any form I’ve built up over La Vuelta.”

The Spaniard even stretched his season to October when he rode Il Lombardia and Abu Dhabi Tour to end a season in which he had already done a brilliant Ardennes campaign with victories in Fleche Wallonne and Liege, taken a podium spot at the Tour de France, won a stage in the Vuelta a Espana and finished fifth at the Worlds. And despite this exceptional effort, he claims that the “recovery is the same every day. It’s important not to change your routine and maintain the same program. On rare occasions we change our diet but we never change our massage and rest routine. It’s all about getting as much rest time as possible.”

When asked about the difference between preparation for one-day classics and stage races, Valverde explains that “the core of our training is generally the same. But of course we change which specific exercises we focus on depending on the type of race, be it a one-day race or 3 weeks of effort. But at the core it’s the same exercises to gain a balance of speed, strength and explosiveness depending on the race.”

Valverde also talks about his relationship with the powermeters. “I use them a lot in training, mainly to track progress and to ensure I’m not over working myself in preparation. They can also be very helpful in some competitive situations. But I personally prefer not to look at how much power I’m putting out in the race and concentrate on how I am feeling,” he explains about the technological improvements that have appeared in cycling in recent years.

However, nothing would make sense if you do not have a firm basis: motivation. “I’m 35 years old but I have the same enthusiasm as when I started. I love my work, I love to run and I love to ride. Every day is a new challenge. My greatest motivator is to continue winning at the WorldTour, in the past few years I’ve been fortunate enough to do this. Making the Podium at the Tour, winning the Classics in spring, fighting at La Vuelta in Spain and the Cycling World Cup all appeal to me enormously. I’m also looking forward to playing a big role at the Olympics and its new motivation for me.”

He does not forget the risk of crashes like the one that ended the career of his teammae Pablo Lastras. Not forgetting the role of the falls, which for example have ended the career of his teammate Pablo Lastras: “In the past I’ve been involved in some falls, but it’s a matter of luck. Sure, sometimes awareness and experience can help avoid crashes. After a serious fall you have to follow all the steps to recovery. You can’t skip any of the recovery process; it takes hard work every day.”