Alejandro Valverde has revealed that he will be 41 years old at the end of the 2021 season, bringing an end to his career. Ahead of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, which starts on Wednesday, the Movistar veteran added that he intends to stay with the team after quitting racing.

In the past, Valverde has hinted that he would stop racing after the Tokyo Olympics later this year, but last year he said he would retire "in principle" in 2021. Last June, Valverde extended his contract until the end of next season, and these comments seem to confirm his future plans.

Asked about 2021, he told AS, "No more than that. I want to do two seasons at the highest level and leave". He is also very much looking forward to being part of Movistar after he gets off the bike. I want to contribute to this family in whatever capacity."

Valverde has ridden the first three days of the Challenge Mallorca this season and has experienced three race days. He will be aiming for his first win of 2020 in Valencia, where he has won the last three times and won four stages.

However, he won just five races last season, down from 14 the year before. Highlights included a stage win at the Vuelta a España on the steep slopes of the Mas de la Costa and the Spanish national road race title.

"This season [age] affects me a little bit, but in the end it's just a number, because the dream of cycling is still the same. Of course, you have to be realistic and know that as you get older and are constantly competing in races, time is passing and the wear and tear is getting worse." Of course, you have to be realistic and know that with age and constantly fighting in races, time is passing and the wear and tear is getting worse.

As for the prospect of not being able to compete for championships in the future, he said, "It will be very hard. 'It's a law of life and normal to lose to 35 and 25 year olds, but it's hard to accept it and adapt to losing in a competition where you usually perform well because of your condition. But what can we do?"

Although his ability will naturally decline as he gets older, Valverde hopes to win at least one more big tournament before the Canyon is in his hands. In an 18-year career that was temporarily interrupted by a two-year doping ban in 2010, he has won nearly every major tournament on the calendar.

In 2018, he added the rainbow stripes to his palmaré, which includes the 2009 Vuelta, nine Ardennes Classics including four Liege-Bastogne-Liege wins, six World Tour stage races, and 18 Grand Tour stages. 2008 Beijing The Olympics will be his last challenge, with his highest finish being 12th at the Olympics.

"I don't have any medals on my resume, I've won stages and podiums at three Grand Tours, a classic, and the World Championships, and my fifth Olympic appearance will be my best memory."

With a road race one week after the Tour de France ends (two weeks in Rio), there is a balance to be struck.

Some riders, such as Vincenzo Nibali and Simon Yates, choose the Giro d'Italia over the Tour, but Valverde is committed to France, even if he is unsure if he will continue riding to Paris.

"Once in Paris, it's hard to decide. The Tour is the Tour. If I intend to give close to 100% performance in Tokyo, it would be best to retire early, rest a bit, train and acclimatize. God will tell me not to go to the Tour anyway.

This year's Tour will be Valverde's 13th. Valverde will serve as a sort of co-director and co-leader for his young teammates Marc Soler and Enric Mas, who have raced the Tour three times.

With Mas new to the team and Sorrell taking on a leadership role, this season saw the departure of Nairo Quintana, Richardo Calapaz, and Mikel Landa, bringing a total of 14 new faces.

"Movistar was forced to change after several years of good results, sometimes not working as well as we would have liked," Valverde said. They brought innovation with them. They bring us innovation. 14 riders joined and they brought us innovation.

"I feel happy to help Enric and Marc grow, they are still young and have room for improvement. I am still the one who is responsible and demanding of myself and that is what motivates me.

"They will also be expected to make some progress, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for the group. After all, I've enjoyed a pretty good record and it's all about Movistar winning."

The friction that occasionally surfaced when Valverde was in the lead with Quintana and Landa may have disappeared by then, but Valverde said such moves were natural in such a pressured environment. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if tensions will return among the new leadership group.

"When you're trying to win and you're caught up in competitive tension, who wouldn't argue in coexistence?"

"We were captains of some of them.

"As for me, I am grateful to share the jersey with two outstanding cyclists. But not so much when their goals coincide with mine," Valverde jokingly concluded.