ALEJANDRO VALVERDE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER HIT AND RUN CRASH

Veteran cyclist Alejandro Valverde was hit by a car while training with a teammate in southeastern Spain on Saturday. Both escaped with minor injuries, his team said.

“We confirm that @alejanvalverde has no fractures or serious injuries after suffering an incident this Saturday when he was riding with a teammate in Alcantarilla,” the Movistar team tweeted, referring to an area near the city of Murcia.

“Bala will remain under observation for 24 hours and will later be discharged. His teammate is also OK.”

Os confirmamos que @alejanvalverde no reviste fracturas ni lesiones de consideración tras sufrir este sábado un incidente cuando rodaba junto a un compañero de grupeta en Alcantarilla.

Bala permanecerá 24h en observación y será después dado de alta. Su compañero está también OK. pic.twitter.com/Y2GmfU9HYf

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) July 2, 2022

The 42-year-old Movistar leader has 132 career wins including the 2009 Vuelta a Espana and goes by the nickname Balaverde (‘Green Bullet’). He was taken with his teammate to a local hospital to be checked over, local media reported. Both suffered scrapes and bruises but no serious injury.

The regional emergency services on Twitter said it was a hit-and-run incident which occurred after midday in the Javali Vieja area with the car in question fleeing the scene.

RBA/AFP Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency