Valverde brings end to season

Eurosport - Sat, 03 Oct 18:32:00 2009

Vuelta champion Alejandro Valverde has brought his season to a premature end admitting he needs rest before beginning to plan his race objectives for next season.

Alejandro Valverde, La Vuelta 2009 - 0

Valverde was due to compete in the Paris-Bourges race on Thursday and the Paris-Tours one-day classic next weekend but after discussions with his Caisse d'Epargne team he has decided to hang up his bike.

"I need to rest both mentally and physically before thinking towards next season and resuming training," said Valverde, who will compete in a few criterium races in the coming weeks.

As well as the three-week Vuelta Valverde also won the Tour of Catalunya and Dauphine Libere stage races earlier this season.

However Valverde failed to live up to expectations and win a medal at the world road race championships last week when Australia's Cadel Evans won the rainbow jersey in Mendrisio Switzerland.

And his future in the sport is hanging in the balance ahead of an upcoming decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Valverde is currently serving a two-year ban in Italy handed down by the country's Olympic Committee in May.

CONI claim a blood sample taken from the Spaniard at last year's Tour de France when it passed through Italy matches DNA from a blood bag seized during the 'Operation Puerto' doping scandal that erupted in May 2006.

CAS is currently studying two appeals.

The first is from Valverde protesting against his CONI ban, which meant he could not race this year's Tour de France because it again passed through Italy.

The other is a joint appeal from cycling's ruling body the UCI and the World Anti Doping Agency asking CAS to force the Spanish cycling federation, which is supposed to act on any misconduct by their affiliated riders, to open a case against Valverde.

An upcoming CAS decision could give the UCI the legitimacy it needs to ban the Spaniard worldwide.

AFP

Comment 1 - 8 of 8

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  1. I advise you to read Szmyd's blogg. There is an­ article about Leo Pieppoli. Szmyd writes who hard is­ the work of cyclists and how many kilometers have a­ rider to ride to complete one stage! Pantani was right:­ even worse cyclist is the best spotsmen.
    I know how­ hard does Alejandro works and he didn' t have to­ use illegal doping. He gave the blood to Fuentes cause­ he was his doctor. Only Eumiano knows he would give him­ modifyied blood if Alejandro would agree. Nothing like­ that hadn't happend. Alejandro is cleann.

    From lacusix, on Mon 5 Oct 4:26PM

  2. He was on fuentes list. Basso was on there too and got­ banned for 2 years and never tested positive. Valverde­ needs to be banned and stripped the vuelta title.­ Sanchez wins.

    From Andre, on Mon 5 Oct 9:54AM

  3. If he is banned in Italy, shouldn't he be banned­ thru the other organizations too??? Does each country­ have their own testing program and that if you flunk­ their's, that you can ride in other countries for­ their rides?? Not sure that make a whole lot of sense.

    From bikedad_99, on Sun 4 Oct 1:08PM

  4. Piti indeed

    From Big Man, on Sun 4 Oct 10:37AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What's wrong with you guys?? This professional­ cyclist is cleaner than all your famlies put­ together!!!
    The one who have to prove it before the­ Wada and Uci are the Italian S***ts who brought this­ mess but they cannot prove anything because they have­ contaminated and manipulated any trustworthy proofs.­
    Now it's time to look forward, the past must be­ left in the past!!! Otherwise ask Mr L Amstrong, the­ most permissive rider to dope and never been­ sanctioned/ banned!!!

    From AndJustice4All, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Good maybe some clean riders can win some races,­ don't like what I say? Prove you are clean and help­ the UCI and WADA! Well you can't, can you? Because­ you were involved in Operacion Puerto. Not only­ involved, but you stored your own blood and injected it­ back into yourself during the 2006 Tour de France and­ other races. Not only are you guilty of being involved,­ but you are a liar unwilling to admit what you did,­ choosing instead to hide behind the Spanish legal­ system and doper-friendly environment + take victories­ away from a clean riders.

    From Big Man, on Sat 3 Oct 11:18PM

  7. Did he use illegal drugs? That is the question. If it­ can be proven that he used illegal drugs, then suspend­ him.

    If it cannot be proven, get the two year ban in­ Italy overturned. The sport should be clean and the­ violaters of the ddrug policy are caught with­ conclusive evidence should be suspended.

    From John T, on Sat 3 Oct 9:53PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    See you after your ban in 2012 Alejando. Such a piti.

    From keir_williams, on Sat 3 Oct 8:54PM
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