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
At 43 years old, Alejandro Valverde wins UCI Gravel Series race La Indomable
By Peter Stuart published
Results Karolina Migoń wins women's race as Movistar rider beat Hugo Dechou after recovery from broken collarbone
Willunga Hill – The history of the Tour Down Under's most iconic climb
By Simone Giuliani, Daniel Ostanek published
Feature From Porte's domination to Gigante's rise, a comprehensive look back at the battles up Australian cycling's famous hill
Keegan Swenson duels with Alejandro Valverde at Gravel World Championships
By Stephen Farrand published
News Spanish ‘veterano’ beats American in sprint after a battle in the Prosecco hills
Valverde fears punctures in Gravel World Championships bid
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
news Former pro says he almost doesn't know how to change a tyre quickly, tips Wout van Aert as top favourite for Sunday
Clash of the all-terrain titans at 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships - Contenders
By Jackie Tyson, Kirsten Frattini last updated
Feature Swenson, Van Aert, Vermeersch, Vollering, Gomez Villafañe, Wiebes headline packed elite fields for rainbow stripes
Van Aert, Vollering, Lamperti and Wiebes take on gravel experts at UCI World Championships
By Simone Giuliani published
News Niewiadoma and Cecchini to race alongside Ferrand-Prévot, Villafañe as Mohoric, Swift and Valverde join Swenson in men’s field
Alejandro Valverde wins on gravel debut at UCI World Series opener La Indomable
By Daniel Ostanek published
Results Carolin Schiff takes an even more dominant victory in the women's race
Who can beat Tadej Pogacar? Favourites and contenders for La Flèche Wallonne
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
Analysis The challengers who could take on the Slovenian on the Mur de Huy - or earlier
Blogs
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Lauren De Crescenzo and her tough decision to miss UCI Gravel World Championships
In her own words, the gravel star explains the complex picture of the Gravel World Championships for the US team -
A proper women's race – Historic day in Emporia at Unbound Gravel
Extended gaps around women's start end with unprecedented sprint finish though 'it’s still imperfect, but it’s the best we can do for now' -
Road prep and adapting to new rules as Life Time Grand Prix begins at Fuego XL mountain bike event
Lauren De Crescenzo uses The Growler for confidence boost ride ahead of prestigious off-road series -
'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'