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It was a 100km race in Almería.It wasn't by any chance the Lleida-Barcelone-Lleida, was it?
I wonder just how technical it was; a lot of gravel races are just like road races, but off-road.....And most races tend to favour the ex road racers rather than the off-road specialists.
Sure but why would we think those riders would stand any chance against him?Bala actually beat some decent field: Dani Moreno, Luis Angel Mate, Alberto Losada, Paul Voss, Cameron Mason...
It was a 100km race in Almería.
According to the link below he left the bunch behind 2km after the start.
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Alejandro Valverde debuta en el gravel a lo grande
El del Movistar, a sus 42 años y tras retirarse la pasada temporada, se estrenó en la modalidad de gravel con un triunfo contundente en La Indomable.as.com
Valverde on a 98km lone breakaway with no cameras to be seen is the paradigm of myth.
He's racing again next Saturday in Girona.
So saying you are retiring doesn't really mean anything..
"He's coming home". Except he isn't, coz he just keeps on racing.
These days, "retired" pretty obviously means "started racing gravel full-time."
I didn't go to the Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego but lots of people did.. would not be surprised to see Valverde coming to beat people up and then flash his pesky smile like he is always super fresh!!"He's coming home". Except he isn't, coz he just keeps on racing.
These days, "retired" pretty obviously means "started racing gravel full-time."
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El dominio de Valverde en números: 8 minutos más rápido subiendo, casi 2 minutos más lento bajando
Alejandro Valverde dominó La Indomable, prueba de las UCI Gravel World Series, gracias a una excepcional ventaja obtenida en la primera mitad de la prueba, prácticamente toda en ascensoesmtb.com
Some info; 8 mins quicker uphill, and 2 mins slower on the descent, when he didn't need to push it.
He walked them overI read somewhere that he even walked the last technical gravel section because he was so far ahead and you do not have any assistance in case of a puncture.
He's not showing up on the elite men's start list, so unless he wants to make a surprise, last-minute entrance I doubt it.Does anyone know if he's riding Unbound Gravel in the US?