Valverde ends 15-year hunt for World Championships title

For Alejandro Valverde, the World Championships have always been the one that got away. It was always within touching distance but slithered away just beyond reach when he got too close. But after six previous visits to the Worlds rostrum, more than any other rider in the 91-year history of the road race, the Spaniard finally found the right formula to win the rainbow jersey in Innsbruck.

At 38, Valverde is the second-oldest rider to don the stripes after Joop Zoetemelk, who was almost 39 by the time he won his one and only world title in 1985. Like Zoetemelk, the jersey had been a long time in the making and Valverde burst into tears after he crossed the line.

"This is the victory that I have longed for. I have always wanted to be the World Champion. I was also chasing the Tour de France but I wasn't able to, but finally I am the World Champion," Valverde said in his post-race press conference, which was attended by Spanish former World Champion Oscar Freire.

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"There have been other times at the World Championships where I have had the fortune of riding with teammates that have won the world title, like Oscar, wearing it myself is great.

"I have cried many times but the truth is that it was a really emotional moment to be the world champion. I have been chasing it forever and I have got six medals but I could never take the gold. Finally getting it feels incredible. I have to thank the Spanish national team, we did a training camp together on the Sierra Nevada before this race and it really helped. We really had a good vibe, we knew where each other were throughout the whole race and they have been a great support to get this victory."

Amidst the joy and relief for Valverde, his win will, of course, be met with scepticism given that he served a two-year ban for doping following the Operacion Puerto investigation and has refused to admit guilt or discuss doping.

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