Alexander Valverde from Lumbreras de Monteagudo, aged 42, crossed Como’s finish line in sixth place, marking the end of his participation in the 116th edition of Il Lombardía and closing a professional career that spanned more than two decades.
It was 16:40, a historic moment for Spanish cycling. Known as El Bala, a one of a kind rider, he waved farewell to a career that tallied 133 victories. This was more than a retirement; it was the curtain on a lifetime of triumphs, early talent, genetic gifts, and an enduring love for the bike that stood firm until the end. The memories of the mechanics who worked with him since his first win at age nine through to the record last February at O Gran Camiño endure like a testament to a career built on consistency and heart.
All of it came full circle on a stage in Italy that gave him everything from the first day to the last. He expressed gratitude to everyone who joined him on this journey, and to those who offered support and affection. Long live the bike. ♥️
– alejandro Valverde
“Your little one will be the best”
A plump boy with pale skin, nine years old, was once the hope his father, Juan Valverde, held for a son who would become a cyclist. The other of his three sons, Juan Francisco, did not share the same passion. Juan Sr. spoke with Antonio, president of the Puente Tocinos Cycling Club, who issued the boy his first license. Your little boy will be the best, she sensed.
From the moment he became his father’s idol and inherited his gene, he debuted in a race in Jumilla, securing second place and feeling the sting of near-miss disappointment. He aimed to win and was thwarted by El lagarto, a boy from Cieza. Instead of giving up, Alex cried out for revenge and promised Antonio he would win the next race in Yecla. He did, and the promise was kept.
The champion project was already in motion. Valverde, still known as Alex, moved through the Santomera cycling school between ages ten and fourteen, contesting and winning virtually every event. La Bala was born, setting a standard where racing for second place was never enough.
By order of General López
Valverde began to rival the best. Joaquín Ramos joined the cadet team for tiles. The first sports director, a strict disciplinarian named Manuel López, was nicknamed general for his method. He discovered a talent stacked with discipline and worked relentlessly to mold it. The strongest wood fell into his hands, and a champion began to take shape. Weight loss became the goal, a target that earned him some good-natured teasing from rivals who saw a future champion in him.
Valverde competed beyond Murcia, heading to the Basque Country with no teammates and limited funds. He won two northern races, and an opponent remarked that the Murcian prospect looked like a future star and perhaps a signing. The coach recalled that he saw extraordinary potential from day one and urged him to take racing seriously because he was already a professional in spirit. A mentor, Mariano Rojas, warned that there were few athletes of this caliber left in the sport.
Lopez remembered those days and later reflected on the belief that if Eddy Merckx had his eye in the race, Valverde might have doubled his own record. The coach explained that Alejandro preferred reaching the finish with more runners to demand the ax and win, while opponents waited to strike. To cover team costs, Lopez even sold lottery tickets.
In cadet racing, Valverde posted 19 wins in 25 events during his first year, and in the second year the Bala team won 34 of 36 races, with Alex himself accounting for 19 wins. The early cash prizes began to arrive. The young rider left school at fifteen after finishing EGB at Juan XXIII School in Las Lumbreras and moved toward a professional arc that would shape his path. He showed excellence both on the road and on the track, becoming national road champion and national track champion in speed, pursuit, and individual on wooden tracks.
That was his way. As a youth, he led with certainty. If he let the goal get close, others would back off. Opponents feared him because he would seize control and force the pace, often deciding races with a bold move. The memory of this phase remains with those who watched him develop.
Amateur with Echavarri in Banesto
Valverde moved from youth to amateur with José Miguel Echavarri’s Banesto, but his stay lasted only a year. The move from Murcia to Navarra did not sit well with his family, and it marked another chapter in a story of ascent and adjustment. A pivotal figure then emerged, Kelme’s director Paco Moya, who needed to persuade Pepe Quiles to bring this rider into the fold. The pitch worked. The green and white Kelme jersey became the stage of a rider who would soon be known as El Bala, a name born in the Alicante cradle of his early formation.
La Vuelta debuted in 2002
Valverde’s first major race marked a turning point. He stepped into the big leagues during La Vuelta a España, enduring a difficult moment on the Angliru’s steep slopes. The following year, 2003, he claimed third in the season rankings, with victories at Envalira and La Pandera and a silver medal at the World Championships in Hamilton, Canada. That year totaled nine wins, signaling a rising force. The 2004 season exploded with thirteen victories and a phone call from Echavarri and Unzue’s Illes Balears that brought him back to the Navarrese squad in 2005.
The then-coach observed a rider who could be the most complete in Spanish cycling history, noting there were stretches when he had been without a contract yet still found a way to excel. The comment about his breadth of ability — excelling in time trials, climbing, and stage races — became a hallmark. Contador may have achieved more in some classics, but Valverde’s wins across varied events spoke for themselves.
Tour dream come true in 2005
Every cyclist dreams of riding the Tour. Valverde’s dream became reality in 2005 at age 25, leading Illes Balears and inspiring a generation. In one year he shared the podium with legends and celebrated a dramatic victory against Lance Armstrong in Courchevel, a moment that defined his career. The year continued with more moments on the road and a farewell on another course. The chapter closed with his coach, Eusebio Unzue, describing him as someone touched by a rare magic, capable of triumphing in any event and unmatched by many in Spanish cycling.
His record stands at 133 victories across all terrains: a Vuelta a España win, top-three finishes in the Tour and Giro, major podiums, a World Championship, Lièges, Flechas, multiple Vuelta stages, and national titles. Experts agree that Valverde’s ability to perform from February through October is rare, a quality that benefited both rider and sponsor alike.
A star meeting the dark
A Chinese proverb says stars shine only when darkness falls. Before a third-place finish at the 2015 Tour de France, a peak moment, Valverde faced a difficult period. He also experienced disappointment with some directors who overlooked his career. The 2008 Vuelta climb up Puerto del Caracol in Cantabria saw him choosing to ride alone through rain rather than waiting for a teammate, a choice that underscored his independent spirit and determination.
Former coach Unzue recalls that Valverde made personal efforts when the team could not rely on others, a testament to his resilience and self-motivation.
Operation Puerto, two years unopposed
The Operation Puerto doping probe put Valverde in the crosshairs for eighteen months. The response from authorities varied, with some letting the scrutiny linger and others pushing back hard. The period tested the rider’s resolve and endurance, requiring him to maintain peak form through a long stretch. At the Olympics, his brother noted the way Alejandro kept training, maintaining a rhythm that allowed him to log similar distances to a full season and still spend time with his family in the off-season. The comeback year 2012 saw him win again at the Tour Down Under, a victory on Willunga Hill marking a return to form and signaling the invincible stage was not over yet.
Tour and World Cup, confirmed topics
A defining arc in Valverde’s career involved continued success across the Tour, World Cup, and Giro. On June 26, 2015, he finished third on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, a moment interpreted as a near-title in context of a highly competitive era. A year later he mirrored that result in the Giro d’Italia, and in 2018 he finally wore the rainbow jersey at Innsbruck after a string of World Cup medals. The triumph marked a pinnacle, the culmination of years of persistence and versatility. As retirement approached, the narrative of a rider who could compete at the highest level through different phases of his life remained intact. At age 42, he left Il Lombardía in strong form, a final bow that echoed his distinctive talent and lasting impact on the sport.