For some people, retirement simply isn’t part of the plan. Alejandro Valverde is one of them. A year ago at the Giro di Lombardia he chose to pause a professional career that had established him as one of Spain’s greatest riders. He became a true classics specialist with four Liège-Bastogne-Liège victories. Even without a win, he remained a consistent presence, frequently finishing among the top ten in the races he entered.
He earned a podium at his second gravel world championship on Sunday, finishing fourth. At 43, he sits ahead of many top experts, some peers, and still-active road stars.
first doubts
A year ago, questions hovered over every facet of Valverde’s career, always a dominant figure in the sport. Could he face a new professional challenge?
Movistar, the team he has supported since Telefónica sponsored Spain’s longest-standing squad in 2012, offered him a fresh role. He would take on diverse duties, from mentoring the youngest riders and serving as a technician at races to handling PR tasks for the three major events on the international calendar, the Giro, the Tour, and the Vuelta, in that order of importance.
With Valverde, the truth is that little was seen in the 2023 races. In February he competed at the Jaén Paraíso Interior Classic, won by Tadej Pogacar, another giant of the sport, and little more followed. He even joined Movistar’s support car for several kilometers before gradually stepping back from full competitive action. He attended a few Telefónica-sponsored events in Bilbao (start of the Tour) and Barcelona (start of the Vuelta). During the Spanish tour, despite wearing a Movistar jersey, he appeared more as a brand figure than an active racer, resting on the sofa in promotional spots.
“What is Valverde doing?”
People wondered what Valverde was up to as the season pressed on. He had already deviated from the planned schedule in races like Paris-Nice and the Catalan Tour. Then a bold new mission emerged for “El Bala,” as he has long been known: he would explore gravel racing.
Gravel represents a new breed of cycling that has captivated countless enthusiasts around the world, especially in the United States. To put it simply, a gravel bike can go where a road bike struggles, with a design that combines speed with comfort on mixed terrains, while still capable of handling tacho-like performance. Mountain bikes, meanwhile, can tackle any trail, but gravel bikes blend efficiency with versatility across diverse landscapes.
#Veneto2023 – 20 km to the finish. The event featured M Mohoric (Slovenia) and F Vermeersch (Belgium) at the front, with C Swift (Great Britain) close behind. The chase group included Valverde, trailing by a few seconds. Movistar Team Gravel Squad shared updates from the race, illustrating Valverde’s continued presence in the gravel world.
That fascination with gravel propelled Movistar to announce, in April, the formation of a dedicated gravel team led by the Murcia-born star. There was no hint of abandoning the road scene or international travel unless it involved cycling. Valverde kept training with his usual group around Murcia, the same teammates who enjoyed challenging each other to the finish line. That close-knit crew had previously endured a serious crash in June 2022, an event that led to hospitalization and a renewed focus on safety and recovery.
My brother and the electric bike
One member of the group is Valverde’s brother, Juan. He oversees a promising Murcian squad sponsored by Alejandro and helps manage the team’s electric bike program. At a designated departure time, Juan plays a signal and starts the motor. The group stays in a single-file line, with Alejandro at the head, pulling his brother along. The same result repeats itself: Valverde rides at the front, the group hangs on, and the others fade as power and endurance decide the outcome.
That dynamic keeps Valverde entertained and perhaps explains his ongoing drive. He remains part of a daily routine that contrasts with the gravel tourists who sign up for non-competitive events from Berja in Almería to La Exita, and in places like Osprey in Sabiñánigo, Huesca. He continues to ride competitively in Spain’s beloved road events, drawing large crowds who still crave the drama of a hard-fought finish in Aragon and the Pyrenees in June.
fourth in Italy
Locals in Almería and Sabiñánigo showed little interest in Valverde’s gravel exploits, yet he persisted, stepping up to win La Indomable and to push the boundaries of what’s possible in endurance cycling. He challenged the field with a solitary effort aimed at proving his form, even as some questioned whether such dominance was necessary against hobbyists who race purely for fun.
Still, the professional side needed momentum. That’s why he led the Spanish squad into the gravel World Cup in Italy on a Sunday. He was far from the podium, though bronze remained within reach in a race won by a Slovenian cyclist from another country. The field also included Pogacar and Roglic, with Matej Mohoric, Milan-San Remo champion in 2022, in the mix. Wout van Aert entered as one of the favorites but finished eighth, impacted by an early misstep.
In short, retirement is not a destination for Valverde. The gravel path has opened new doors and kept him visible on the international stage, where experience and passion meet the evolving demands of modern cycling.