Gallery: Alejandro Valverde's Giro d'Italia Canyon Aeroad

Gallery: Alejandro Valverde's Giro d'Italia Canyon Aeroad

All the details on the bike that's carrying "El Bala" around his final Giro d'Italia

Photos: Tornanti.cc

At the age of 42, Movistar's Alejandro Valverde will be hanging up is wheels at the end of the 2022 season. El Bala will be hoping to go out with a bang after 18 years on the Spanish team, and this year's Giro d'Italia will be the final one of his glittering career.

While Valverde has admitted he won't be targeting the general classification, he'll be gunning for stage wins aboard his Canyon Aeroad. We got a closer look at the four-time Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner's Giro d'Italia bike.

Related: Giro d'Italia 2022 Preview

In a fetching blue and black paintwork, Valverde's Canyon Aeroad is a bike that looks fast. As the name suggests, the bike focusses on aerodynamics but also maintains a low weight, meaning it can be used across both flat and hillier parcours. At 5'8ft, Valverde rides a relatively small frame.

The bike is equipped with a 12-speed SRAM Red ETAP AXS groupsets and Valverde was riding 52/39T chainrings.

Movistar use SRAM's premium groupset offering as opposed to Shimano's, both of which are likely the most technologically advanced groupsets on the market today. Unlike Shimano, the SRAM groupset operates on a one-button-per-lever operation and is neater as it is without any electrical cables. SRAM is also cheaper and currently has better availability. 

Related: Things to look forward to in the Giro d'Italia 2022

Valverde's bike had Zipp 454 NSW wheels, equipped with new Continental GP 5000 tubeless tyres.

Valverde's bike had relatively narrow handlebars and he's kept his shifters straight, not succumbing to the current trend of inward facing hoods to allow riders to get in to a more aerodynamic position. As the Movistar rider will likely be targeting the hillier stages, straight levers provide a more comfortable position for longer climbs.

Valverde uses a carbon braided Fizik Anteres 00 saddle, a lightweight road saddle weighing just 140 grams.

A sticker on the top tube of the Aeroad promotes Bala's thriving Twitter account. Valverde is close to reaching half a million followers, so we understand the bit of self-promo.

Photos: Tornanti.cc

READ MORE

Demi Vollering 2025

Is FDJ-Suez the team that can help Demi Vollering to Tour de France Femmes redemption?

There are big changes for the Dutch rider in 2025 - will they pay off? Or could leadership issues arise again? 

Read more
Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has teased his participation on social media, but is it a legitimate possibility?

Read more
James Knox at the British Road Championships

‘Credit should go to Lefevere for working the market’ - James Knox on Soudal–Quick-Step’s evolution from the cobbles to Tour de France contenders

Now in his sixth year with the Belgian squad, the British rider discusses what has changed following the arrival and performances of Remco Evenepoel

Read more
Portrait of Lukas Nerurkar

‘An altitude camp at the age of seven’ – Lukas Nerurkar on the power of doing things differently

The British rider had a unique upbringing, spending his early childhood in Ethiopia and learning from his marathon runner father – he tells Rouleur about...

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE