Valverde set for Tour of Flanders debut: 'I think it's the right moment'

Like all good showmen, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) has raised the anticipation by making us wait. Last year the Spaniard caught the eye at Dwars Door Vlaanderen – a rare appearance on the cobbles – and set tongues wagging about a possible Tour of Flanders debut four days later. That, ultimately, never materialised, but here we are, 12 months on, with the 38-year-old definitively set to take to De Ronde, in the rainbow jersey no less.

Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.