The 38-year-old Alejandro Valverde became the second oldest male road world champion after winning the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, yesterday.
The Spanish rider won his first world title after claiming silver twice before and bronze four times.
Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, pictured here during this year’s Vuelta a Espana, won the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, yesterday. Photo: Luis Ángel Gómez
The oldest road world champion is Dutch rider Joop Zoetemelk, who won in 1985 at the age of 38 years and 272 days, just over 100 days older than this year’s winner.
On the other end of the scale, Belgium’s Karel Kaers was the youngest rider to claim the title in 1934 at the age of 20 years and 46 days.
Slovakia’s Peter Sagan also set a record when he became the first rider to win the title three consecutive times.
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