He may have had no answer to Alberto Contador’s acceleration on the Gaintza but Alejando Valverde (Movistar) had plenty of reason to be cheerful after a solid showing on his first day of WorldTour racing this season.
Valverde’s race programme meant the Spaniard had not ridden a WorldTour event until this week, but his form has nonetheless been impressive. Three stage wins and the overall title at the Ruta del Sol, and one-day victories at the GP Miguel Indurain, Roma Maxima and Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia have all pointed to him being in top form.
And the ease with which he first ascended the Gaintza showed he is in great shape with the Ardennes Classics almost upon us. Contador’s attack the second time around was too much for Valverde to handle, but it was he who has attacked the bunch first and the Movistar man had plenty in the tank to seal a comfortable second place.
Three top-ten finishes – including two podium places – was a good return for Valverde at last year’s hilly Classics but it is no secret he wants much more this time out. And if stage one in the Basque Country is anything to go by, he is in a good position to do exactly that.
