Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) has expressed his relief at completing his first race since he suffered a broken kneecap and talus bone when he crashed out on the opening day of the 2017 Tour de France.
The Spaniard finished safely in the main peloton on day one of the Challenge Mallorca, the Trofeo Campos-Porreres-Felanitx-Ses Salines, coming home in 40th place behind winner John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo). On the second day of racing, he made a strong breakaway with Tim Wellens and Gianni Moscon.
Although Valverde has been back in full training since last autumn – he had already clocked up some 6,000 kilometres by early November as he prepared for his comeback – he confessed to a degree of nervousness about returning to the cut and thrust of the peloton on Thursday.
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“At the beginning, there was uncertainty, and even a little bit of fear in the first moments,” Valverde told AS of his first day back in the saddle. “I’ve trained a lot and I feel good, but racing is different.
“I was a little bit nervous because you never know how you are going to be. But the day arrived and I felt good. It wasn’t a stage for me but I was able to ride at the front with my teammates and help [Daniele] Bennati for the finish.”
Valverde’s near seven-month lay-off is shorter than the 18 months he spent out of the peloton following his belated suspension for his implication in the Operacion Puerto blood doping investigation. On that occasion, he marked his return to the peloton with a stage win at the 2012 Tour Down Under, and the 37-year-old will hope to pick up an early victory in 2018.
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