TIBI, Spain – Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde has crashed out of the Vuelta a Espana on the seventh stage.
The 2009 winner, who started the day fourth overall 41 seconds down on race leader Primoz Roglic, came off his bike with 43 kilometres to go as he was attacking on the descent of the second category Puerto el Collao, hitting the road hard before sliding off onto gravel.
The move appeared to have opened up some distance between the Spaniard and the red jersey as the riders approached the final two categorised climbs of the day.
The 41-year-old received treatment and attempted to continue the stage, helped on by team mates, however soon dismounted and was visibly emotional as he was embraced by his team director upon calling it a day.
Valverde clambered back to the road, with the help of Jose Joaquin Rojas, who had set up his attack, and stood up with right arm bloodied and jersey dusty and torn.
He was offered a new bike by a mechanic but he refused it, and went on to clutch his right shoulder. After consolation with doctors and team staff, he did remount and continue the stage for a short time.
However, he had to be pushed by teammates, and it was clear his time at the Vuelta had come to an end.
He climbed off the bike and appeared to break down in dears as he hugged his team director.
Valverde started the day fourth overall, 41 seconds down on Roglic. His teammates Enric Mas and Miguel Angel Lopez occupied second and third on the GC, and the Spanish squad had looked to use that advantageous position from range on stage 7.
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