Roadcycling.com asked Valverde some questions on the day before the race.

As for now, and comparing with other years you took part in fewer races. How do you feel on the eve of starting in the 24th edition of the Vuelta a Castilla y León?

“It is true that I have been racing less than I used to do the previous years. As for now I only took part in two stages of the Challenge of Mallorca, the two stages of Tour of the Haut Var and the Clásica of Almería, but in spite of that I feel pretty well and I believe than my level is rather good even if I certainly will have to adapt to the rhythm of the competition which will certainly be a high one.”

Precisely, from tomorrow on, you will be confronted with some riders who already took part and won some important races during the beginning of the season. Do you feel apprehensive about that?

“I don’t believe I have to be afraid. But of course I have a lot of respect for those riders because I could see which level some of them have already reached and it is obvious that I still miss something to reach such a one myself.”

Originally, the Vuelta a Castilla y León was not part of your race calendar. Why did you change your plans?

“I change my mind because I knew I needed to take part in a 4 or 5 days long race. Even if I trained very well it was a long time, too long for me, without taking part in a competition? I needed to do it as soon as possible. This race is a great opportunity to pit myself against high level adversaries. The presence of the time trial is also an extra motivation. It will be an important test even if I believe that I cannot improve more in this kind of time trial. I showed last year, for example in the Dauphiné Libéré, that I am even able to win a 30-35 kilometers long time trial.  On the contrary I still have to improve in the ones which are longer than 50 k.”

Will you try to win the race?

“One must be realistic. I first of all will have to adapt to the rhythm if he race and see which the other riders’ level is really and which is mine. If I feel well then why not try and win a stage?

Tomorrow you will face Lance Armstrong again...

“That’s really great and I am delighted about that. It will be a very special moment. I also think that his presence in the race will attract many journalists to the event.”

After Castilla y León, will you follow your initial racing program?

“Yes, as for now, I will change nothing to my plans. I will successively take part in the Grand Prix Miguel Indurain in Estella, the Clásica Primavera in Amorebieta,  Paris-Camembert, the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After that, in May I will be in the Tour of Catalunya and in June in the Dauphiné Libéré before defending my title in the Spanish Road Championship. I want to do everything with a lot of tranquility, without any rush, to arrive in the best possible condition at the start of the Tour de France, which is still my main goal this year.”