Valverde said BEFORE the race he was on better form this year than last year and that the course should suit him. TODAY he flat out said that he was freezing and pulled out for his own health.
So, where's the quote? So he sacrificed his chances at a good result to not get sick? I don't believe that for one solitary second and I'm a huge fan. He was quoted 2 days ago in cyclingnews saying "It's not for me" talking about he course. He also talked about not looking forward to the weather:
"Even though I went well in the rain at the Worlds road races in Ponferrada and Florence, I really don't like the look of the weather forecast for Sunday,"
"You have to really be on your toes in bad weather, and constantly eating, despite perhaps having crashes happening all around you. I'd say that, physically, I'm feeling great – even better than before the Worlds in Innsbruck last year – but that the route and expected weather conditions aren't exactly perfect for me."
So more than once he said the course wasn't for him - which we all pretty much knew.
And you mentioned riderS. Where are the quotes from riders who who would have had great results but only dropped out to avoid getting sick? I still haven't seen a single one.