Cycling transfers: The season hasn't even started yet and future contracts are already being discussed in cycling. As announced today, Wout van Aert has extended his contract with Jumbo - Visma. Alejandro Valverde will no longer sign a new contract as a professional. The Spaniard ends his career after this season.
Valverde retires at the end of the season
Alejandro Valverde will hang up his bike after the 2021 season. The Spaniard turns 41 in April and will then look back on a 20-year professional career. This began in 2002 in the Comunidad Valenciana – Kelme team, before moving to the Caisse d'Epargne and Movistar teams in 2005.
Alejandro Valverde has already raced against drivers of the Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong generation. Remco Evenepoel, who is now a pro, was just three years old when he became runner-up in the men's road race in 2003. During his career, Alejandro Valverde only won a Grand Tour once. In addition to his Vuelta victory in 2009, he finished in the top 11 a further 10 times in the Tour of Spain. He did so 7 times in the Tour de France and finished third overall in the Giro d'Italia in his only start in 2016. He also won the classic Liège - Bastogne - Liège 4x and the Flèche Wallonne 5x. The Spaniard was able to crown his career in 2018 when he became road world champion.
Alejandro Valverde:
“I thought to myself that this will be my last season. I start with the same enthusiasm as always to do well for the team. And if I can win, all the better. I just start the season with the idea that it will be my last season.”
Ⓜ️✨ PRESENTATION #MOVISTARTEAM2021
📺 Grabacion: https://t.co/iNDIIkE5Ge
📙 Basic dates: https://t.co/SFLL6GfFjP
🚴♀️ Equipo fem: https://t.co/oCw2M1Mqta
🚴♂️ Equipo masc: https://t.co/BMNZ2erjKs
📆 Calendario: https://t.co/L4hIv8M5Cx???? @PhotoGomezSport pic.twitter.com/KImhU9aDLO
- Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) January 21, 2021
Van Aert extends until 2024
Another outstanding athlete in cycling has renewed his contract. wout van aert will compete in races in the black and yellow jersey of the Jumbo - Visma team until the end of 2024. This was announced by the team management on Thursday. The Belgian switched from cyclocross to road two years ago, although he still competes in the main cyclocross events during the winter.
In 2020 he managed to grow into one of the best road cycling professionals with impressive performances. Among other things, he won the Strade Bianche, Milan - Sanremo and three stages in the Tour de France. He was also Vice World Champion in time trials and road races. His performance in the mountains of the Tour of France was particularly strong, when he provided important support services for captain Primoz Roglic.
Wout van Aert:
"My goal has always been to extend my contract here. I wanted that because I've really gotten a lot better here. I think everyone saw that I've made a lot of progress as a driver over the past two years. I was always in shape when I wanted to. I owe the team a lot. So the decision was made for me pretty quickly.”
3 more years with @JumboVismaRoad 🤩 #wine seeds #WOUT2024 https://t.co/QmmU9M3vrJ
— Wout van Aert (@WoutvanAert) January 21, 2021
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