Alejandro Valverde has bowed out of the sport of cycling aged 42 years but has made clear what he sees as the pecking order at the top of the pro game as he ends his two decades as a pro, interrupted by a doping ban.
The Spanish veteran has effectively said while there are a number of excellent riders on the scene at present but that world champion and Vuelta 2022 winner Remco Evenepoel is far better than even the best of the rest.
Valverde described two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is an "exceptional" rider, even he does not come close to level of Evenepoel (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl).
Evenepoel, still aged just 22 years won the Vuelta this year and claimed the world title with a dominant display, having also won Liège-Bastogne-Liège with a long-range solo attack. However, Pogačar has already win two Tours and nine stages in that race as well as three Vuelta stages, Il Lombardia, Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
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"Remco does things that stun everyone," Valverde said when speaking to the media the ASO-owned Singapore Criterium yesterday. "If he continues as he is now, he will certainly build a bigger palmares than mine.
"Being a world champion at his age and winning the Vuelta, Liège and San Sebastián - that's impressive. In my eyes he is currently the best rider in the world. Tadej Pogačar is exceptional but Remco does things that surprise everyone. He's far superior to others. So for me, he's the best rider in the world at the moment, by a long way."
Valverde - who served a doping-related ban which, for many, casts a shadow over his career - said he was going to remained involved with Movistar, the Spanish World Tour team he rode for since 2005.
"I'm going to be involved a bit with the riders, a bit with the directors, and a bit with the coaches. It'll be a bit here and a bit there," he said. "I'll be trying to bring my experience to advise everyone where I can. If there's anything that can be improved I'll try and help do so."
