The last pedaling of Valverde in the Vuelta a España

Alejandro Valverde greets the public before starting stage 14 of this Vuelta.JORGE GUERRERO (AFP)

The Dutch

who animated the control of signatures in Den Bosch, third stage of this Vuelta, shouted from the rooftops the winners of all the cyclists as a letter of introduction.

Until it was the turn of the oldest in the peloton, the World Champion (2018), the Vuelta España (2009), the Dauphiné, so many Flecha Wallona and Liège-Bastogne-Liège… “

Valverde, oé oé oé,

Valverde, oé oé oé!”, tried to spread it without success, little followed by the motley fans that crowded in front of a channel.

But when Valverde (Las Lumbreras, Murcia; 42 years old) greeted him, cheers broke out, a person who is so admired and loved by the fans as well as by teammates and rivals with whom he has pedaled his last Vuelta before retiring this year.

That was seen a few days later, when at the exit from ElPozo he joined his whole family and, applauded with a roar by his countrymen, he was visibly moved.

“I am impressed with the public during this Vuelta.

Is incredible.

I am enjoying it a lot”, conceded

.

But he will soon get off the bike.

And it is not something simple.

Alberto Contador, winner of two Giros, two Tours and three Vueltas, Óscar Freire, three times world champion, Joaquim Rodríguez,

, winner of stages by definition and classics such as Giro de Lombardia or Flecha Valona, ​​and Roberto Laiseka, winner of stages in the Vuelta and the Tour, they tell their experiences.

The decision.

Everyone understands that there are two types of withdrawal: voluntary or forced, either due to a fall or because you run out of equipment.

“That happened to me, that I hit a cake in the Giro and I had to retire.

It was very hard for me because you think you will come back, but you can't.

And that's how it ends, which ends up affecting you, "reviews Laiseka.

This is not the case with Contador, who on the first rest day of the 2019 Tour, met with his team, the Trek, and warned that he would not continue on the bike, even if he had three years left on his contract. .

"There comes a time when if you want to retire at the highest level and with good memories, you have to rush it a bit," concedes the Pinto man.

Something similar happened to Purito: “I wanted to leave leaving a good mark and fighting for everything, also with a podium finish in the Vuelta.

Also,

I ended up a bit burned out with the team (Katusha) because the last two years were not the same as when I had joined, and I made the decision with confidence”.

The same as Freire: “I knew that I would end up in the World Cup in Holland, where I ran the first, so it was the best scenario to leave it.

It was also added that I had two children, I had already run for many years and the objectives were increasingly unattainable... It was clear to me”.

It happens, however, that, seen over time, they might have kept pedaling a little longer.

I had already run for many years and the goals were becoming more and more unattainable… It was clear to me”.

It happens, however, that, seen over time, they might have kept pedaling a little longer.

I had already run for many years and the goals were becoming more and more unattainable… It was clear to me”.

It happens, however, that, seen over time, they might have kept pedaling a little longer.

More information

Alejandro Valverde: "I want to enjoy and run without pressure"

“Yes, I thought I should have continued for another year.

But once you make the decision, you are no longer a cyclist.

And that he had offers, which physically could have continued for a couple more years.

But psychologically I was not at my best and that in cycling is impossible”, admits Freire.

“I could give more, in fact, in peak power of five and 10 minutes I broke my record that year.

The numbers accompanied ”, admits Contador.

“I retired at the moment I wanted, but when I saw the Vuelta I got the bug, I was fine, I could have endured the point of form.

And when I saw Alberto, he made me even more angry because he attacked, he had a good time… ”.

Contador picks up the baton: “I enjoyed it a lot!

I played it a bit because I could fall and the memory would not be the same, but losing time at the first opportunity, that allowed me to run as I pleased,

attacking in unexpected ports, in stages that they thought would be transitional… And I almost made it to the podium.

But that was secondary.

In fact, the last Vuelta, although I didn't win it, was more special than any other where I took the win”.

The day after.

The majority, cyclists say, feel comfortable when they stop feeling the pressure, demanding themselves mentally and physically.

But that feeling doesn't last long.

“By leaving it you don't feel anything because you are liberated and you spend Christmas more peacefully.

But when you realize and you say 'now what' is January 1, which is when you used to start the concentrations and plan the season.

you feel strange

And not having a clear objective can lead to depression”, explains Contador.

“Suddenly, your life changes and you don't know what to do or where to locate yourself with your family and everything.

And since they don't advise us, we have a little depression.

I had it, it's very hard.

The association should approach it with psychologists or psychiatrists to prepare us.

And it doesn't matter if you have money or not, it's the chip in your head”, claims Laiseka.

“The first year flies by,

You don't even know why you rest, you free yourself.

But in the second you realize that something is missing, adrenaline, pressure... And you have to accept that you become a cyclist, a spectator”, Freire deepens.

“There is no turning back.

You have to prepare and look for alternatives, compete at another level”, concludes Purito.

And Contador expands: “I retired in a sweet way and the victories of the past opened many doors for me.

Perhaps mine was different than usual, but I have seen many friends who have suffered because their lives changed from one day to the next.

You have to reinvent yourself."

That will touch Valverde.

You have to prepare and look for alternatives, compete at another level”, concludes Purito.

And Contador expands: “I retired in a sweet way and the victories of the past opened many doors for me.

Perhaps mine was different than usual, but I have seen many friends who have suffered because their lives changed from one day to the next.

You have to reinvent yourself."

That will touch Valverde.

You have to prepare and look for alternatives, compete at another level”, concludes Purito.

And Contador expands: “I retired in a sweet way and the victories of the past opened many doors for me.

Perhaps mine was different than usual, but I have seen many friends who have suffered because their lives changed from one day to the next.

You have to reinvent yourself."

That will touch Valverde.

Alejandro Valverde, during stage 16 of this Vuelta.Javier Lizón (EFE)

The goodbye of Valverde.

It is known that Movistar will continue to count on him – he has not yet revealed how – a proposal that everyone understands is the best solution.

“The runner with the most victories in Spain retires, the best, the one who did well in any type of race.

But Valverde will be close to cycling and Movistar, and that is the best thing for him in the future because you don't have to get obsessed when you leave him.

Some cannot and Valverde will have to learn”, Freire argues.

“His withdrawal from him will be good because he will continue with Movistar.

He is going to keep in touch with the competition, leaving home… ”, adds Contador.

"He chooses goodbye and will continue with the team, so I'm sure that from time to time he gets the bug to shoot hard," says Purito.

“And that Alejandro is special because he will have many acts, they will call him from many places.

The last Lap of the Bala.

Although yesterday he did get into the breakaway and helped Mas in the penultimate mountain, Valverde was clear in front of the microphones, finishing the sixteenth stage.

“I haven't gotten into a breakaway or fought for a stage victory, but Enric is doing very well and I'm at his side giving him peace of mind.

If a stage victory comes, it comes, but it is not an obsession”, he resolved.

“Whether he has won a stage or not is not important.

He has enjoyed the Vuelta.

On TV the signs of affection are not perceived, but at each exit they acclaim him, also during the race, the graffiti on the road…”, says Contador.

“His goal for him was not to win or lose, it was simply for this to be a triumphal ride because he very much deserved it.

He had to say goodbye.

He attracts the public for his track record, charisma and because he is valued, ”adds Freire.

"That's it, he has lived it and tasted it,

It has been nurtured by the people and that is what it is going to miss the most.

In a few months you'll find out."

But until then, he will savor cycling like this Vuelta.

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