CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"I had to do the final 60 kilometers, with all cobblestones on the route, with a seatpost 2.5cm smaller than mine, but it was really impossible to switch bikes before the finish, because it was 'full gas.'"

Photo: Sirotti

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

MOVISTAR TEAM

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

TOUR DE FRANCE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS
09.07.2014 @ 19:55 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Alejandro Valverde was again hit by bad luck in the Tour de France when he crashed moments before the peloton hit the first pavé sector. The Spaniard regretted having been forced to do all the key sections of the race on a bike that was too small.

 

One of the hardest and most thrilling stages of the Tour de France in recent years has witnessed the win by Lars Boom (BEL) in Arenberg, after 152km under soaking rain and with seven cobbled sections - 13 kilometers in total - that are usually on the route of Paris-Roubaix. Endless crashes throughout the day also affected the Movistar Team, whose leader Alejandro Valverde had to race off-balance following a chute with 69km remaining.

Helped out immediately by José Joaquín Rojas, who gave him his bike - with which he completed the stage - then accompanied by all his eight team-mates, the Spaniard bridged to the group of race leader Vincenzo Nibali (AST) before the section of Pont-Thibault - the second of the stage - but the strong pace and the impossibility to gain places in the group broke it to pieces. Valverde fought restlessly for the next 40km, firstly alone behind Contador (TCS) and later along with some team-mates - with a special mention to a notable Rojas, later held off by a crash with no consequences - and the Tinkoff-Saxo team, trying to keep the gap under the two minutes it reached ahead of the final three secteurs pavé.

 

Eventually, the drain stropped: with Nibali at 18" after Boom, the Movistar Team's leader stopped the clock 2'27" after the Dutchman and 2'09" behind the Italian. Combined with Contador's faint - he came 25" after the Murcia-based rider - it keeps Valverde in the overall top ten (10th), 2'11" in arrears of Nibali after a day where the 2013 winner Chris Froome (SKY) withdrew following two consecutive crashes. With all mountains ahead, the Blues will now enjoy two flat stages before the Vosges start on Saturday; the first one on Thursday will link Arras and Reims over 194km.

 

"After all bad luck that we had, we could get through the day well," Valverde siad. "When I crashed I was perfectly positioned, within the first ten of the bunch, but some rider hit me from the left side, broke my gearing and made me hit the tarmac - it was quite a blow. I spent some seconds on the ground hurting, but Rojas came fast to give me his bike and all the team was sensational, always by my side.

 

"I had to do the final 60 kilometers, with all cobblestones on the route, with a seatpost 2.5cm smaller than mine, but it was really impossible to switch bikes before the finish, because it was 'full gas.'

 

"We must be happy, because even though we lost quite a bit of time against Nibali, we didn't concede much to others, and even won some seconds to riders like Alberto. It's obvious that Nibali is proving to be strong, as well as Fuglsang and all his team, but this has just started and there's all to play for in this Tour. Anything can happen.

 

"On the other hand, I wasn't aware of what happened to Froome. I did see Zandio crashed, but not him. I was so focused on my racing that I couldn't realize anything happening around me.

 

"I want to thank the team again because they were brilliant today. Before the crash, we were in perfect position, and they rode their hearts out for me afterwards. I don't have any bruises, but my knee, hip and head hurt and even though it doesn't seem like anything important, we will see how my body responds tomorrow."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Jan LOF
35 years | today
Bailey MCDONALD
21 years | today
Gabriel GUERRERO
50 years | today
Jan WOLF
35 years | today
Pauline ALLIN
29 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com