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Alejandro Valverde proved the doubters wrong but when the dust settles will the Spaniard's win be another slap in the face for the Vuelta?

"I have shown that I am a three-week rider, I always believed it but maybe some fans and others had doubts," Valverde said after securing the first grand tour win of his career.

Valverde is, of course, correct. People had doubts - most notably Blazin' Saddles, who rubbished the prospect of him riding into Madrid covered in gold. And his win proves he is a three-week rider - or at the very least, the best of a rather poor bunch of three-week riders who chose to shoehorn the Vuelta into their long season schedule.

Already undermined each year due to its proximity to the world championships and its billing as the least popular of the three grand tours, there's no reason after the latest edition of the Vuelta to believe that it isn't still living on borrowed time.

With Roberto Heras and Alexandre Vinokourov amongst recent winners, the last thing the race needed was another drug cheat on top of the podium.

But that, according to Italian National Olympic Committee, is just what they have. In Valverde, the Vuelta has a winner who was effectively banned from racing the other two (more illustrious) grand tours of the season.

The only thing that will clear Valverde's name from the ongoing Operacion Puerto rigmarole is a DNA test - something he refuses to do. WADA and the UCI might still act on the evidence used in the Italian court, and any conviction would leave both Vs - the Vuelta and Valverde - red faced.

No one any longer doubts Valverde's ability as a rider. BS always loved the punchy style of riding which has bought the Spaniard stage wins and Classics triumphs at the highest level and against the very best.

On top of that, Valverde's ability to adapt deserves nothing but praise. Landing the Vuelta through consistent riding, tactical excellence, a remarkable mountain comeback when all seemed lost and without even taking a stage, is the last way one would have expected the usually explosive Valverde winning a major race.

In short, it's an astonishing accomplishment and testimony to the 29-year-old's development and maturity. Chapeau.

But that's not the point.

Back in 2005, when Valverde beat Lance Armstrong to the summit of Courchevel, the soon-to-be-crowned seven-times Tour champ said: "With Valverde, everybody has seen the future of cycling. He's fast, he's strong, he's intelligent. It's impressive."

A week later, as Armstrong topped the podium in Paris, the Texan also paid tribute to runner-up Ivan Basso, a rider he effectively described as his natural heir.

Back then, only a fool would have predicted Valverde to beat Basso to winning a major tour - but then again, no one thought Basso stupid enough to get involved in Operacion Puerto.

But while Basso has served his time, Valverde still has not. For all of you who say "have mercy on the Murcian, he won it fair and square", BS will put his hands up and agree that yes, Valverde is indubitably riding on a clean engine and he proved the best over the rickety roads of Spain this September.

That doesn't escape the fact that according to the evidence - including blood bags tagged with "Valv" and the name of his dog "Piti" - Valverde still owes two years of his career to the officials.

Had he done those two years the same time as Basso, would we be talking of Valverde as a Vuelta winner? Certainly not. Had he started those two years as soon as CONI recognised his involvement in Puerto, would we be praising his comeback on the Pandera? No, he wouldn't have been racing. If he ever sits out the two years said to be awaiting him, will Valverde ever add to his major tour haul? It's highly unlikely.

Of course, he is not the only current grand tour champion to ride under the shadow of Puerto. There is fresh talk of Alberto Contador joining Valverde's team Caisse d'Epargne next season - a move which Valverde says he would welcome with open arms.

Questions have been raised how one team will be able to accommodate both big-name riders who share aspirations in winning the Tour. Even if the move happens, we may have to wait another two years to find out.

And if that proves to be the case, one of the biggest losers will be the Vuelta. BS bets many of cycling's big wigs are now praying the Green Bullet doesn't cross the line first in Mendrisio.

Felix Lowe / Eurosport