No Vuelta for Valverde

Program sends rider to lead Tour of Burgos team

Alejandro Valverde will not race the Vuelta a España, where he finished second last year to Alexander Vinokourov, then of Astana.

Valverde's team, Caisse d'Epargne, decided not to change his program; instead, they will keep it as decided at the beginning of the season. The rider from Murcia will take part in the Tour of Burgos and in the GP of Plouay to prepare the Road World Championship on September 30 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Caisse d'Epargne for Tour of Burgos (August 14-18): Alejandro Valverde, Florent Brard, Alberto Losada, Aitor Pérez, Fran Pérez, Ruben Plaza, Vicente Reynes and Constantino Zaballa under Director José Luis Jaimerena.