By Antonio J. Salmerón
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) is rebuilding fitness after suffering a broken collarbone earlier this month in the Tour de France. He is training in a structured way under the advise of his doctor, Jose Luis Martinez Romero, and is already able to do almost one hour on the home trainer.
His doctor Martínez Romero says that things are looking good. There is a chance that he could return to training on the road this weekend, eight days after being operated on. In fact, the Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears will participate in the Vuelta a Burgos, which will take place between the 6th and the 10th of August.
Although Valverde’s presence has not been confirmed at the moment, if the Spanish rider wants to ride on the Vuelta a España [which begins on the 26th of August], competing in the Vuelta a Burgos would be the same preparation as he did in 2004. He went on to finish third in the Vuelta then.
The Vuelta a Burgos has two key stages; the third stage is a 13 kilometre time trial, while the following day takes the riders to the summit finish of the Neila Lakes.
Other interesting options for Valverde are the Otxoa Memorial at the end of July and the Urkiola Climb in August. He is also considering the world championships but is not certain, due to the fact that Óscar Freire wants to lead the Spanish team there. The Rabobank rider has the chance of taking a record fourth gold medal this year.
