Valverde may miss Burgos

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) is rebuilding his season to start in the Vuelta a España on August 26, but isn't sure when he'll return to racing, following his broken collarbone in stage 3 of the Tour de France. Valverde's director, Eusebio Únzue, told El Faro de Murcia that he doubted Valverde would be ready in time for the Vuelta a Burgos, that runs between August 6-10. "I don't think he is ready for the Vuelta a Burgos," said Únzue. "Anyway, he will do a test at the end of this week to decide what his immediate calendar will be. Valverde on the right track."

Únzue won't consider it a disaster if Valverde misses Burgos, "Because we have other races available," he said. One of those could be the Clasica San Sebastian on August 12, followed by the Subida Urkiola the next day. And between the 16th and 23rd of August, Valverde could do the Benelux Tour, while the Clásica de los Puertos is on August 20.

Únzue also believes that Valverde has a good chance in the Vuelta. "The time trial stages are suitable for Valverde, and the mountain stages do not worry us; we already know that Valverde, in form, is capable of everything."

As far as the Caisse d'Epargne riders who will support Valverde in Spain, Únzue confirmed that Oscar Pereiro, second in the Tour, will be in the Vuelta, "but not all those that were in the Tour."