It was robust and smooth, with just a hint of mischief. No, that wasn’t today’s race – that was the wine I was drinking to try to make the afternoon worthwhile. In a race that would give Wednesday’s Fleche Wallonne a run for its money in snooze-worthiness, La Doyenne was won by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) from a group sprint, with Etixx-Quick Step’s Julian Alaphilippe and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) completing the podium.  Continue reading →