By Monika Prell The organiser of the Clásica a Alcobendas is happy to announce that the winner of...
Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), 28, has been confirmed to race Clásica de Alcobendas (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
By Monika Prell
The organiser of the Clásica a Alcobendas is happy to announce that the winner of this year's Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, will participate in the race that will be held in Madrid and Guadalajara, May 10 to 11. The 28 year-old will lead Team Caisse d'Epargne, backed by local Daniel Moreno and Cantabrian Iván Gutiérrez, according to the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC).
Saunier Duval-Scott will also send two local riders, José Angel Gomez Marchante and Alberto Fernández De La Puebla. Karpin Galicia has also one rider from Madrid in its team, Carlos Castaño, who will be accompanied by Ezequiel Mosquera.
Manuel Calvente, winner of the Vuelta a La Rioja, will lead Team Contentpolis-Murcia; Andalucía-Cajasur will send Francisco José Ventoso, winner of the first stage of the same race.
Extremadura-Ciclismo Solidario, Burgos Monumental and the Spanish national team will complete the Spanish participation, but the Clásica de Alcobendas also counts on foreign teams. Christophe Moreau will lead Team Agritubel and Stefano Garzelli Acqua e Sapone. France's Crédit Agricole will lead with Pietro Caucchioli and Portugal's Benfica will be present with José Azevedo and Rubén Plaza.
For Francisco Mancebo and Eladio Jiménez Sánchez (Fercase), this race means the first one in Spain since the beginning of the season as well as for Moisés Dueñas (Barloworld).
The start list will be completed by Bouygues Telecom, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli, Tinkoff Credit Systems and Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce.
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The two-day event changed its format; the time trial has been substituted by a normal stage. On Saturday, the riders will cover 144.7 kilometres from Alcobendas to the Puerto de Navacerrada, a first category mountain, after having already ridden a second and first category climb.
Sunday morning, the rides will cover 104 kilometres between Alovera and Azuqueca de Henares, with three mountains of the fourth category, before closing the race in the afternoon with an urban circuit -- 72.9 kilometres -- in Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes.
