2013 Alejandro Valverde

valverde, wearing green jersey of points classification leader, @ 2013 vuelta españa

as in 2012, valverde won overall classification of vuelta andalucía in 2013, won points classification in race. valverde continued showing form after finishing podium places in vuelta murcia, amstel gold race , in liège–bastogne–liège. after having decent spring campaign, valverde aimed podium finish in tour de france. valverde started tour in form after finishing third in ax3 domaines behind chris froome , richie porte. next day, porte lost on 15 minutes moved valverde second overall right before tour left pyrenees. on stage 13, valverde lost 10 minutes after getting flat tire. despite hard pursuit, high crosswinds , pace of peloton prevented him , teammates catching back. ended second group @ finish causing him slip out of top ten. despite losing second position, valverde managed in alps moved him top ten of overall standings, finishing 8th overall.

at vuelta españa, after stage 10, valverde sat fourth overall minute behind race leader chris horner. however, on stage 11, moved 3rd after finishing 8th in time trial. on stage 14, on rainy descent, valverde dropped g.c. contenders entering final climb minute back. managed limit losses on final climb staying within minute of rivals, though losing close minute on nibali, horner, , rodriguez. on stage 16, managed cut handful of seconds on nibali , horner. entered penultimate stage 20 minute behind race leader. came third of stage finished atop steep alto de l angliru, securing podium finish in general classification, 1 minute , 36 seconds behind race winner chris horner. @ world championships, took third place, criticized failing cover late attack of portuguese rui costa. costa reached , out sprinted joaquim rodríguez, valverde s fellow spaniard , teammate.