Ever remember that whole Operación Puerto thing a few years ago? I think it was before the ‘06 Tour that a whole bundle of riders were suspected to have had links with a Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes in Spain who’s clinic was loaded with the blood of professional cyclists – including that of Jan Ullrich – and the riders in question, including Ulrich himself who was Tour favorite, were duly kicked out of the race before it started leading us all to believe we finally had a clean race only for Floyd Landis to show up. Well, the thing is still rattling on and one professional who also happens to be the number one ranked rider in the world – Alejandro Valverde – has raced without much interruption since until today when he was finally suspended for two years for his links to Fuentes and the case. It’s been a while but justice served late is better than no justice at all.

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I used to really like Valverde and often hoped he would take over from a old Spanish legend who was one of my all time favorites on the bike, Miguel Indurain. I felt Valverde had the tools to win the Tour de France and a few years ago I thought it would happen. It didn’t and then Valverde got mixed up in some doping case his name was linked too and it hurt his reputation a bit. He was banned from racing in Italy meaning he missed the ‘09 Tour de France as it spent a few days across the border in Italy, although Valverde has professed his innocence and not been found officially guilty of anything. Still, as a sceptic of any racer even remotly linked to doping I have to say I no longer have the support for Valverde I once had but it is isn’t stopping him from leading a charge towards the Vuelta crown.

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