Alejandro Valverde to lead Team Movistar at the Amstel Gold Race
After proving his strengths at the Vuelta a Andalucia 2012, Alejandro Valverde will now be tested at the Amstel Gold Race.
The cyclist will be seen in the leadership role for Team Movistar at the Dutch race, scheduled on April 15, 2012.
Team Movistar is enjoying a mixed season. It currently holds the ninth overall spot at the UCI World Tour Team’s rankings as of 2012 with 205 points to its credit.
Valverde contributed a maximum number of 167 UCI points to help the team with its current position, along with Javier Moreno (20), Jose Joaquin Rojas (12), Sergio Pardilla (4) and Giovanni Visconti (2).
Alejandro joined the Spanish team in 2012, after marking his debut with Team Kelme-Costa Blanca in 2002-04 seasons.
He also represented Team Illes Balears-Banesto throughout 2005-10, before accepting an offer from Team Movistar prior to the start of the 2012 season.
The Spaniard rode brilliantly right from the start of the new season and his first victory came during the second stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia.
He occupied the first overall spot after the final general classifications and also succeeded at the point’s classifications.
The 31-year-old secured the second overall spot at the Santos Tour Down Under, along with the stage 5 win at the race.
His most recent victory came during the Paris-Nice, as the cyclist bagged the third stage of the race and also finished third overall after the overall classifications.
The team is hopeful that Valverde will help the team during the Amstel Gold Race during, “one of the longest-awaited moments of Movistar Team's 2012 season”.
Amstel Gold Race is a one-day race that started back in 1966, with Jean Stablinski as its first winner.
Jan Raas holds the honour of winning it for a maximum number of five times, while Philippe Gilbert succeeded during the most recent edition.
The final list of eight cyclists to represent Team Movistar at the event include Alejandro Valverde, Giovanni Visconti, Imanol Erviti, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Ángel Madrazo, Pablo Lastras, Rui Costa and Vasil Kiryienka.
Only time will tell if the cyclist can help the team during the 2012 version of the Amstel Gold Race, and enable the team secure the much-needed victory.
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