Alejandro Valverde from Murcia returns to competition today in the Mont Ventoux Challenge, one of the most mythical and feared climbs
Valverde returns to the competition today after his participation in the Giro d’Italia. Take the start of the Mont Ventoux Challenge, known as the Giant of Provence, a test that the rider from Las Lumbreras, another cycling giant with 133 victories to his name, never won, but because he has never competed in the format Classic It is a professional competition that originated in 2019. Spaniard Jesús Herrada, Russian Aleksandr Vlásov and Colombian Miguel Ángel López are the winners of the three contested editions.
Valverde has climbed his slopes and knows well what he is going to find. In the 2009 edition of the Dauphiné Liberé, he finished second in the stage that ended on Mont Ventoux, a climb considered one of the most feared by professional cyclists. The gusts of wind blowing at the top have turned this mountain into a lunar landscape. The Tour de France and the Tour de la Provence have also included him in their stage list more than once.
The best climbing times on Mont Ventoux correspond to a time trial of the Dauphiné Liberé in 2004, with the record of the Basque runner Iban Mayo. Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana set a historic time in the Tour de la Provence in 2020, joined the ranks of Arkea and improved the time of Marco Pantani by 8 seconds in 1994. However, this stage ended in Chalet Reynard, 5 kilometers from the top where Pantani made extra effort to distance the group from Induráin and Virenque.
In such a special season for Valverde, his last as a pro, the Murcian will then participate in the Occitania route from 16 to 19 June. It is a test in which he triumphed twice. Valverde is also likely to participate in Mallorca at the end of the month, which will host the Spanish Professional Championships. The only appointment not in the Movistar rider’s plans is the Tour de France. Of course he is certain that he will play the Vuelta a España from August 19 to September 11.
The Mont Ventoux classic repeats its route of just over 150 kilometers. The slopes of Sault –more stretched to the Chalet-Reynard, totaling 24 kilometers at 5%– and Bédoin –21 kilometers at 8.7%– dominate a scenario that will be preceded as a starter by the slopes of La Madeleine (two stairs), La Gabelle (10 kilometers at 4%) and Rocher du Cire, also quite smooth. This setting is a paradise for sports with personal challenges and the physical challenge of climbing, cycling or hiking. In addition to the wind and its harshness, Mont Ventoux is known for the great cycling performance experienced on its slopes.
Source: La Verdad
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