Valverde inspires the recovery of Froome

Alejandro Valverde showed his "joy" for sharing the platoon again with Briton Chris Froome, who has returned to the competition in the Tour of the Emirates after eight months recovering from a serious fall.

The Murcia cyclist, who also went through a "similar situation but with fewer fractures", believes that his recovery and return to normal was an incentive for the four-time winner of the Tour de France.

“I talked with Froome yesterday in the dining room and I am very happy to see him again in a race. He noticed me in the effort and seeing that I returned the same or stronger than before the injury I had in the 2017 Tour. He knows it is difficult but he will try too, ”said 2018 World Champion in Dubai.

Given this kind of circumstances of overcoming, Valverde said that "The mental aspect is 80 percent, as in any activity and in any sport."

"The champions are also seen in these circumstances, it is very hard to overcome a serious physical and mental injury, to retrain ... it is something complicated that requires a lot of sacrifice !.

Winner in 2018 and second in 2019, this year Valverde hopes to "do well", although his fitness "is not as good as in previous seasons."

"This is a very good race at this stage of the season, I want to enjoy it and be at ease." There are two stages of arrival high and Pogacar is very strong, but we will see what can be done. "

Just a year ago, Valverde premiered the World Champion rainbow jersey on top of Jebel Hefeet.

"The memory is very good, it was something exciting. I hope it can be repeated, but there are very strong rivals and I am not like last year, I will try to do it well"

Even without victories in 2020, the Movistar leader admits that he feels no pressure, and that "it costs more to win every year."