Juanjo Cobo Wins Stage 19, Valverde Looks Strong for Top of Madrid Podium

Today’s hilly stage was all about Alejandro Valverde proving that he could hang on and not succumb to various attacks as it was the final day for riders to really pressure him for overall GC lead. Valverde held strong and it looks like he’s going to wind up taking the top podium spot when the field rolls into the Madrid on Sunday.

As for Stage 19, Juanjo Cobo won on a wet, cold and rainy day as he was part of the eight-person breakaway. Samuel Sanchez, who is now second in the overall rankings thanks to Robert Gesink fading because of his injuries, was probably the last chance to attack Valverde and pose a serious challenge.

“I got so cold on the descent, I could barely turn the pedals,” Sánchez said. “I was hoping to try to attack Valverde, but the legs went cold.”

Valverde can see the end, but doesn’t want to celebrate too early.

“If there’s not any sort of problem, I should be able to do it tomorrow, but you cannot say you’re a winner until we’re in Madrid,” said Valverde, who had no trouble following the attacks to take second in the stage. “It was super-nervous today. There was a lot of tension in the race, but the team has been a ’10.’ They’ve protected me this entire tour.”

There’s a time trial tomorrow and then Madrid comes on Sunday. Unless something catastrophic happens, Valverde looks poised to win his first overall victory in a grand tour. It’s a shame that the Court of Arbitration for Sport postponed the decision on Valverde and his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs because, at least for me, it makes this coming victory a little hollow.