Alejandro Valverde was out training when the alleged road rage incident by the retired police officer unfolded (Photo: Gautier Demouveaux)
Alejandro Valverde, the former world champion who served a doping-related ban from racing, was out training when a retired police officer overtook him closely, braked and then reversed into him, it is alleged.
The incident took place in July, 2022, and has now resulted in criminal charges in court, with prosecutors claiming attempted homicide.
However, the accused man, now aged 69, has denied he had any intent to kill Valverde and the two other riders he was with at the time. It is reported he left the scene but later presented himself to the police.
The driver, who was in a van on the day, is facing three charges; two of attempted homicide and one of reckless driving. If convicted on the attempted homicide charge, a maximum of 15 years in prison could apply.
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The matter came before the Provincial Court of Murcia this week, with the prosecution and defence unable to find agreement around the charges.
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At the time of the alleged road rage incident in Alcantarilla on July 2nd, 2022, Valverde was taken to hospital. His employers, Movistar, issued a statement and confirmed he had sustained no fractures or any other serious injuries.
Spanish media has reported the driver is alleged to have overtaken Valverde and his training partners too closely, with less than 1.5m between his vehicle and the riders.
When the cyclists verbal clashed with the driver it is alleged he braked and reversed into the trio on their bikes. However, the driver denies this and, at the time, he was reported as saying he never reversed but may have "grazed" the cyclists' bikes as he left.
It is alleged one of the cyclists who was with Valverde took more than a year to recover, even though he broke no bones during the incident. Valverde was able to return to racing four weeks after the incident, in what was his last season on the road.
He was training for La Vuelta at the time of the incident and went on to start that race, his final Grand Tour, and finished 12th overall.
The accused man's lawyer told Spanish media this week he hoped to reach an agreement with the prosecution. If a settlement is agreed, a trial will not take place.
