‘It makes no sense’ – Adam Blythe on ‘bonkers’ rules blocking Alejandro Valverde from World Championships

Alejandro Valverde's inability to race at the upcoming UCI Road Cycling World Championships is the result of a «bonkers» situation, says Eurosport's Adam Blythe. Valverde is currently not allowed to travel to Wollongong to represent Spain at the World Championships, which take place from September 18-25, due to Movistar wanting the 42-year-old to help them pick up points in their bid to avoid relegation from the WorldTour.

Ad Twenty teams are battling for 18 spots as of next season, with Valverde’s Movistar currently in danger of being demoted, even if Israel-Premier Tech and Lotto Soudal are the two teams currently occupying the bottom two spots. World ChampionshipsValverde among riders blocked from World Championships amid relegation fears7 HOURS AGO “It is bonkers,” said Blythe on Eurosport's The Breakaway.

“It just makes no sense and it’s taken away, for me, from proper bike racing. “They are putting rules in place that are not allowing Valverde to compete at his last World Championships, to go and save a team that he’s not going to ride for again.

“OK, he’s been a part of it [Movistar] for a long, long time and he doesn’t necessarily owe them anything, but they owe him more than what he owes them.” The relegation system has polarised cycling with just 18 WorldTour licences available for the next three-year cycle between 2023 and 2025. Juan Ayuso and Marc Soler are set to be Spain’s leaders for the men’s road race according to national coach Pascal Momparler, who lamented missing out on Valverde's experience.

“It would be nice if Valverde could take part in the World Championships alongside young riders like Ayuso and [Carlos] Rodriguez so they can learn from him,” Momparler said. “He would love to come, he has said