Alejandro Valverde is one of the favourites to win the gold medal in the men's World Championships road race on Sunday. If he does so, he will finally banish a 15-year itch and purge a long line of missed chances.
The Spaniard has finished on the Worlds podium no fewer than six occasions - more than any other rider - but has never stood on the top step.
"Cycling is unjust to Valverde, who is owed a world title at the very least," Movistar manager Eusebio Unzué said a few years back.
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The hilly nature of the Innsbruck course is well suited to Valverde who, at 38, is running out of time to plug that glaring gap on his palmares. With that, Cyclingnews takes a look back at Valverde's six Worlds medals, remembering the highs, lows, frustrations, and controversies.
Hamilton 2003
Gold: Igor Astarloa (Spain)
Silver: Alejandro Valverde (Spain)
Bronze: Peter Van Petegem (Belgium)
What a debut. Valverde's first World Championships ended with a silver medal and not a hint of disappointment about it as his own teammate Igor Astarloa won gold in a Spanish one-two.
Madrid 2005
Salzburg 2006
Valkenburg 2012
Florence 2013
Ponferrada 2014
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/the-world-championships-alejandro-valverdes-white-whale
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