Rider Profile
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2022 - Movistar Team
- 2021 - Movistar Team
- 2020 - Movistar Team
- 2019 - Movistar Team
- 2018 - Movistar Team
- 2017 - Movistar Team
- 2016 - Movistar Team
- 2015 - Movistar Team
- 2014 - Movistar Team
- 2013 - Movistar Team
- 2012 - Movistar Team
- 2010 - Caisse d'Epargne
- 2009 - Caisse d'Epargne
- 2008 - Caisse d'Epargne
- 2007 - Caisse d'Epargne
- 2006 - Caisse d'Epargne - Illes Balears
- 2005 - Illes Balears - Caisse d'Epargne
- 2004 - Comunidad Valenciana - Kelme
- 2003 - Kelme - Costa Blanca
- 2002 - Kelme - Costa Blanca
Biography:
2018 World Champion Alejandro Valverde, born April 25, 1990 in Las Lumbreras, Spain, turned professional in 2002 with Spanish squad Kelme-Costa Blanca and claimed his first of 133 career victories the following season, a stage in the Vuelta al País Vasco, now known as the Itzulia-Basque Country.
In a career that spanned over 20 years, Valverde took a record-breaking five wins in La Flèche Wallonne, four victories in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Monument, two victories in the Clásica San Sebastián and a World Road Championships win in 2018.
Valverde also shone in stage races, claiming the outright victory in the Vuelta a España in 2009 and amassing twelve stage wins in his home Grand Tour during his career. Valverde finished on the podium of all three Grand Tours, as well as taking four stage wins in the Tour de France and one in the Giro d'Italia. Week-long stage race triumphs included the Critérium du Dauphiné, Volta a Catalunya and Vuelta al País Vasco as well as a wealth of minor multi-day events, mostly in Spain.
Having joined Iles Balears-Caisse d'Epargne in 2005, Valverde remained with the same team, under different sponsorships, until he retired at the end of 2022. A prolific winner, his career was also marked by his involvement in the Operación Puerto anti-doping investigation, which led to a two-year sanction which ended on January 1st, 2012.
Key results
Winner of 2018 World Road Championships
Winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège: 2006, 2008, 2015, 2017
Winner of Vuelta a España: 2009
Winner of la Flèche Wallonne: 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Winner of Critérium du Dauphiné: 2008, 2009
Winner of Volta a Catalunya: 2009, 2017, 2018
Winner of 12 stages in Vuelta a España, four stages in Tour de France, one stage in Giro d'Italia
Winner of Vuelta al País Vasco (La Itzulia-Basque Country)
Winner of Clásica San Sebastián: 2008, 2014
Related Articles
Tour de France: Can Movistar's new-look trident avoid past shambles?
By Peter Cossins published
Feature There have been encouraging signs that López, Mas, and Valverde can form a slick cohesive unit
Lopez, Mas, Valverde headline Movistar at Tour de France
By Cyclingnews published
News Spanish squad to unveil new kit on Tuesday
8 riders to watch at the 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné
By Daniel Ostanek published
Feature Thomas, Quintana and Gaudu among the big names in action at the key Tour de France build-up event
Liège-Bastogne-Liège brings no birthday presents to Valverde
By Cyclingnews published
News Movistar rider out-paced by younger rivals in five-man sprint
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021 - Preview
By Stephen Puddicombe published
Preview Unfinished business for Alaphilippe at the oldest of the Monuments and a tilt at a fifth victory for Valverde
Valverde opens the door to 2022 as resurgence continues with Flèche Wallonne podium
By Patrick Fletcher published
News Spaniard rues poor positioning on Mur de Huy but says he's back in form ahead of Liège and 41st birthday
Valverde: Alaphilippe is not the only rival at Flèche Wallonne
By Cyclingnews published
News Spaniard seeks to extend record to six victories on Mur de Huy
La Flèche Wallonne 2021 - Preview
By Stephen Farrand published
Preview Can Pidcock deliver on that final surge up the Mur de Huy or is it time for another win from a rider in the rainbow stripes?
Blogs
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'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas -
UCI Gravel Worlds - new course, same criticisms cast doubt on event
Nathan Haas hears feedback from fellow riders on course elevation being 'selective without being stupid' -
Nathan Haas blog: We need to talk about the Unbound mud pit
Was it wrong to not re-route the course? -
Ellen van Dijk - Leading by example
'I have the chance to show the world how normal it should be to perform at a top level as a mother' -
Rukhsar Habibzai - The day I left home
'It is a story shared by thousands of Afghans. It is the day we left home, left our souls and left Afghanistan'