There were a few weeks earlier in the year where it seemed possible that Alejandro Valverde would be taking part in the Tour de France. The news of the final ruling in his case finally came through though and put paid to any hopes of a start in the 2010 Tour de France, or the 2011 Tour for that matter. The 2009 Vuelta a Espana champion is currently serving out a suspension until January of 2012 for his involvement in Operacion Puerto. While the controversial, explosive climber languishes in the purgatory of his doping suspension, he recently weighed in with his thoughts on this year's Tour de France.
Unsurprisingly, Valverde believes that the Tour will be settled between the current top two on the overall: Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador. Schleck still maintains a 31 second advantage over the two-time Tour de France winner with three more days in the Pyrenees and the final long time trial remaining as tests for general classification glory.
"Yes, I think the rest of the Tour will be a duel between Alberto and Andy and that everything will be clarified in the Pyrenees. The two go hand in hand in the mountains. I see more opportunities for Contador to counter, so I give perhaps 60% chances to Alberto and 40% to Andy, especially for Alberto's superiority in the time trial."
For Valverde, however, the real surprise for him are the people that aren't close on the overall and the riders just outside of the dominion of the leading pair. This makes sense, because most would assume this would be the domain of the relegated winner of the 2010 Tours of the Mediterranean and Romandie. Had Valverde raced, it could safely be prognosticated that the former Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner would be near the front of the GC, but not quite up to the lofty heights of the dominating duo.
"It has been a Tour of surprises in which Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck have been in a dogfight for the overall. I was surprised by the elimination of some favorites like Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov, and Robert Gesink. The truth is that I expected more from them...I would have liked to have taken part in the Tour de France. I think I would be fighting for the podium, but I am calm. It would have been a Tour for me, perhaps I could play a counter to Schleck."
Taking off his pundit cap for a moment, Valverde talked about his own situation for a moment. Valverde continues to defiantly proclaim his innocence and hopes to someday prove it.
"I do not regret not having done things differently, so that I could be competing now. I never asked for this. My case has nothing to do, for example, with someone like Ivan Basso. Evidence was attributed to me that wasn't mine, so I struggle to prove my innocence. I have never doubted that."
While the Murcian hopes to somehow prove his innocence, the chances of that don't look all too promising, so he continues to while away the time in his suspension, "living the life of a professional without competing." Valverde continues to train 3-4 hours per day and says that he's staying fit.
For the former Tour de France stage winner, 2012 cannot come soon enough.
"I am ready to come back and keep winning. I maintain a good relationship with the team, and I want to make my return with them. They have stood by me, and for that, I am grateful."