<figure ><img title="Alejandro Valverde" src="http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/04/Alejandro-Valverde-320x213.jpg"/><p>Alejandro Valverde won Flèche Wallonne in 2006 and again last year. Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://www.tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a></p></figure><p>Movistar will bring its superstars to the Ardennes classics, with Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana poised to take on Flèche Wallonne (April 22) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 26).</p>
<p>The Spanish “blues” confirmed that both will race Flèche and Liège, while Valverde will be racing for the podium in Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race.</p>
<p>Valverde, 34, has been a consistent performer across the Ardennes, with <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/04/news/valverde-wins-fleche-wallonne-late-move-mur-de-huy_325102"target="_blank">two victories in Flèche</a> (2006, 2014), and two at Liège (2006, 2008), but Amstel Gold has proven elusive, with a second in 2013.</p>
<p>“The Ardennes are races that fit my characteristics perfectly,” Valverde told <em>VeloNews</em> in an earlier interview. “They will be my major early-season goals. I’d love to win Amstel Gold, because it’s one that’s gotten away from me so far.”</p>
<p>Quintana, meanwhile, only raced Liège once, finishing 50th in 2013. All but one of Quintana’s 21 career wins have <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/colombian-climber-quintana-is-king-at-tirreno-adriatico_363820"target="_blank">come in stage races</a>. His lone one-day race victory was the Giro dell’Emilia in 2012, but he hopes to expand his repertoire to include more classics.</p>
<p>“It’s true, the focus for me has been on stage races, but I also like the classics,” Quintana said in an interview. “Races like Liège are part of the history of cycling, and I would like to add my name to the palmares sometime during my career.”</p>
<p>Movistar doesn’t have the firepower to legitimately challenge the cobble-bashers over the northern classics, but its fleet of sleek climbers and puncheurs tends to shine in the hillier terrain of the Ardennes.</p>
<p>The Spanish team brings a strong squad in support, with Imanol Erviti, José Herrada, Gorka Izagirre, JJ Rojas, Rory Sutherland, and Giovanni Visconti. John Gadret will race Amstel Gold on Sunday in place of Quintana.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/valverde-quintana-take-on-ardennes-classics_366841">Valverde,Quintana take on Ardennes classics</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com">VeloNews.com</a>.</p>
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<p>The Spanish “blues” confirmed that both will race Flèche and Liège, while Valverde will be racing for the podium in Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race.</p>
<p>Valverde, 34, has been a consistent performer across the Ardennes, with <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/04/news/valverde-wins-fleche-wallonne-late-move-mur-de-huy_325102"target="_blank">two victories in Flèche</a> (2006, 2014), and two at Liège (2006, 2008), but Amstel Gold has proven elusive, with a second in 2013.</p>
<p>“The Ardennes are races that fit my characteristics perfectly,” Valverde told <em>VeloNews</em> in an earlier interview. “They will be my major early-season goals. I’d love to win Amstel Gold, because it’s one that’s gotten away from me so far.”</p>
<p>Quintana, meanwhile, only raced Liège once, finishing 50th in 2013. All but one of Quintana’s 21 career wins have <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/colombian-climber-quintana-is-king-at-tirreno-adriatico_363820"target="_blank">come in stage races</a>. His lone one-day race victory was the Giro dell’Emilia in 2012, but he hopes to expand his repertoire to include more classics.</p>
<p>“It’s true, the focus for me has been on stage races, but I also like the classics,” Quintana said in an interview. “Races like Liège are part of the history of cycling, and I would like to add my name to the palmares sometime during my career.”</p>
<p>Movistar doesn’t have the firepower to legitimately challenge the cobble-bashers over the northern classics, but its fleet of sleek climbers and puncheurs tends to shine in the hillier terrain of the Ardennes.</p>
<p>The Spanish team brings a strong squad in support, with Imanol Erviti, José Herrada, Gorka Izagirre, JJ Rojas, Rory Sutherland, and Giovanni Visconti. John Gadret will race Amstel Gold on Sunday in place of Quintana.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/valverde-quintana-take-on-ardennes-classics_366841">Valverde,Quintana take on Ardennes classics</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com">VeloNews.com</a>.</p>
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