Valverde to return to competition in Spain

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) won the Dauphiné Libéré for the second year in a row.

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) won the Dauphiné Libéré for the second year in a row. (Image credit: Sirotti)

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) will return to competition at the three-stage Vuelta a la Comunidad De Madrid from July 17 to19.

The winner of two stages at last year's Tour de France is not competing at this year's Tour due to a two-year ban handed down by the Italian Olympic Authority (CONI) that prohibits him from racing in Italy.

The French Grand Tour will pass through Italy's alpine region on Stage 16.

Valverde will be joined by teammates Andrey Amador, Vicente García Acosta, Vasil Kiriyenka, Alberto Losada, Ángel Madrazo, Fran Pérez and Joaquím Rodríguez when the Vuelta a la Comunidad De Madrid begins on Friday.

Neil Stephens will be the team's director for the race.