Alejandro Valverde's debut in the Cape Epic 2024 could be with a top-level partner

The former professional cyclist Alejandro Valverde announced a few weeks ago that the Cape Epic 2024, 17-24 March, was one of the next important objectives in his calendar. A news that raised as much expectation as doubts as it will be one of the big attractions for the next edition of the Tour de France of mountain bike. But who will be his partner? Does he have a chance of making the podium?

Alejandro Valverde on the podium of the Cape Epic 2024?

Since he hinted that he wanted to be in the Cape Epic 2024 the expectation has only grown around Valverde's participation in the South African race. He will not be the first road cyclist to go to one of the temples of mountain biking, so far Jakob Fuglsang has been the only 'road' rider to win there, but his exceptional form, his ambition and a possible top-level partner make Spanish fans dream of seeing him on the podium.

In 2023, Valverde is no longer a professional cyclist, at least that's what his licence says, but his performance is still at the level of the best and at 43 years of age he proved it at the last Gravel World Championship, finishing fourth ahead of many active road professionals and after winning the sprint against one of the stars of gravel, 29-year-old Keagan Swenson. These good results in gravel make it clear that the rider from Murcia knows how to adapt well and fast to other disciplines which do without the assistance and the team work of the road.

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Alejandro Valverde knows that the mountain bike technique could reduce his chances in the Cape Epic and that's why he has been training and competing in some mountain bike races for some months now. But we have no doubt that he will have no problem to be in front of the other favourites for the victory because of his form and ambition.

Moreover, all rumours suggest that Alejandro Valverde's partner for the Cape Epic 2024 could be one of the official riders of Canyon, technical sponsor of the Movistar Team. The Canyon Northwave team has been one of the protagonists of the last editions of the Cape Epic, and of its four members, the 2021 XCM world champion Andreas Seewald is the name that is being considered as a possible partner for Valverde for the Cape Epic 2024.

In the absence of an official confirmation of his partner and several months before the race, it seems clear that Valverde's intentions are to try to be as competitive as possible.