Alejandro Valverde to target Ardennes Classics again in 2017
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 03/11/16 11:09am
Movistar's Alejandro Valverde will turn his attention back to the Classics next spring, after targeting the Giro d’Italia in 2016.
The 36-year-old Spaniard rode the Giro for the first time in his career in May and finished third, but his participation came at a cost in the three Ardennes Classics, which he had dominated the previous season.
Although he won La Fleche Wallonne for the third year in succession, he opted to skip the Amstel Gold Race and was off the pace at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Speaking to the Spanish newspaper AS, Valverde hinted he will once again ride the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in 2017 but will not return to the Giro.
"I want to return to the calendar I had in other seasons," he said. "I want to do the spring Classics again, which have always been important to me.
"This year I will not race the Giro d'Italia and dedicate myself more to the Classics."
Valverde is particularly keen to win the Amstel Gold Race and September's Il Lombardia next year, but he also wants to make his debut at the Tour of Flanders.
He added: "I believe I can do well in the Amstel Gold Race and Il Lombardia, which are races that I still have not won.
"I also have the Tour of Flanders in my head. It is a race that I would like to ride before I retire."
