Tejay van Garderen finishes Andalucia in second overall

“Valverde, Valverde…” Valerio Piva, the BMC Racing Team director said with a somewhat wistful grin to reporters by way of a one-word explanation as to what had happened to American Tejay van Garderen and the reasons for his defeat in the battle for the overall lead in the Vuelta a Andalucia Ciclista Ruta del Sol on Sunday. And to be honest, Piva’s explanation after van Garderen and BMC were overwhelmed by a devastating attack from the Movistar leader on the race’s final climb effectively said it all.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.