The 2023 UCI Gravel World Series kicked-off on Sunday 23 April in Almeria, Spain at La Indomable, with former World Road Champion Alejandro Valverde returning to competition and his winning ways – but now on gravel. The 42 year-old superstar, racing for the new Movistar Team Gravel Squad, left the competition in his dust by riding everyone straight off his wheel from the start.

Valverde put in a blistering attacked 2 kilometers into the race and then rode solo all the way to the end, recording a final time of 3:26:03 for the 98 kilometers long event with 2600 meters of climbing. He finished almost five minutes ahead of Ismael Esteban (3:30:46) and Cameron Mason (3:31:18).

Carolin Schiff won the women’s race, finishing in 4:19:15, with Jade Treffeisen (4:33:25) in second place and Valverde’s teammate Hayley Simmonds (4:41:04) in third place.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category at a UCI Gravel World Series event automatically qualify to the race in the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships in Italy next October.

Complete UCI La Indomable gravel results HERE.

Photo Credit: Twitter/Movistar Team

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