BARCELONA, 3 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde has renewed his contract with the Movistar Team to play the 2022 season in which it could be his “last bullet”, or not, before a withdrawal that the Murcian continues to delay while adding triumphs to his honors.
In a video as a tribute, the Movistar Team announced on their networks that the ‘Bala’ will continue to be active in 2022 and they ask themselves whether or not it will be their last year as a professional cyclist, playing with that “last bullet 2022” that it becomes, in the end, a question.
Valverde, at 41, has achieved 130 victories as a professional and is one of the most successful cyclists in the history of Spanish cycling, being perhaps the most complete despite living in the shadow of Miguel Indurain in terms of triumphs in the Tour o great returns.
In 2021, the year that could finally be that of a postponed withdrawal, he won precisely the Miguel Indurain Grand Prix, the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and the third stage of the Giro di Sicilia. Three more wins to reach 130 and forget a blank 2020 due to the appearance of the pandemic.
Now, in a 2022 that except for a last minute surprise it will be his goodbye, he will play his last bullets in search of the odd ‘Monument’, a renowned classic or stages in great tours. Perhaps no longer as a great team leader but as a luxury squire looking for the ‘icing’ on the cake of his brilliant record.
La Vuelta 2009, three Volta a Catalunya or one Itzulia, four stage victories in the Tour de France and 12 stage victories in La Vuelta, as well as conquering four Liege-Bastoña-Liege and five Walloon Flechas make Valverde one of the greats of the cycling and Spanish sports. Will 2022 be his last bullet? The ‘Bullet’ will say.