Valverde called Noval 'the new Valverde' back in 2025 and says Ayuso and Mas need to be in the medal conversation

When Alejandro Valverde was asked last December who could become his successor in Spanish cycling, the 2018 world champion did not hold back. According to Diario del Triatlón, Valverde declared that Noval 'could be the new Valverde' and called him 'an extraordinary talent'. Nine months later, the 17-year-old has delivered a rare junior World Championship double in Montreal, adding the road race rainbow jersey to the time trial title he claimed two days earlier.

Valverde's endorsement carried institutional weight. In March 2025, the Real Federación Española de Ciclismo appointed him as the national road team selector for the élite men's squad for the next four years. As a seven-time World Championship medallist who won gold in Innsbruck in 2018, Valverde was not making an idle prediction.

Noval completed the second half of his double on Thursday, attacking on the ninth of ten ascents of the Voie Camillien-Houde with 27 kilometres remaining and soloing clear of the field in a dominant climbing display. Simon Defrance took silver for France at 42 seconds, while Elias Wändel completed the podium. Two days earlier, Noval had already taken the time trial title, beating Belgium's Vic de Smet by six seconds over the 20.3-kilometre course.

'It means a lot to me. I have worked on it for a long time and knew it was possible,' Noval said after the road race, according to Cycling Flash. 'I was not so confident in the time trial, but I was today. I knew I could do it, and when I saw the moment to attack, I decided to give everything.'

Noval also praised the Spanish team's tactical execution. 'The truth is that the plan went perfectly. I think the four of us understood each other perfectly from the beginning,' he told CyclingNews.

The double places Noval in exclusive company: he is the first rider since Remco Evenepoel in 2018 to win both junior world titles in the same year. Noval, who signed a contract with Netcompany-INEOS at just 16, will join the British WorldTour team next year and is under contract through 2028.

What sets Valverde's words apart from the many comparisons that have surrounded Noval this week is their timing and their source. The teenager has already been compared to Van der Poel for his versatility and linked to Paul Seixas for his prodigious junior performances. But Valverde made his prediction in December 2025, months before Noval had earned a World Championship medal, speaking as the man the Real Federación Española de Ciclismo had appointed to lead Spain's national road programme at the highest level.

The scale of Noval's ambition had already surfaced after Tuesday's time trial. 'I think it was a goal from the start of the season, but, well, I wasn't entirely sure I had a real shot at it; I knew it was possible, but I still can't quite believe it. I'm still processing it all,' he told CyclingNews.

By Thursday evening in Montreal, there was nothing left to process. Noval had two rainbow jerseys, a finish-line celebration borrowed from Contador's signature 'pistolero' salute, and the knowledge that Spain's most decorated cycling figure had seen it all coming.

Spain is heading to the World Cycling Championships with Juan Ayuso and the brand-new Vuelta a España winner Enric Mas as its team leaders, but Alejandro Valverde notes that his riders aren’t really being mentioned anywhere as contenders for the elite men’s road race.

Valverde spoke with Marca on Thursday and seemed in good spirits. The junior and U23 teams have already brought home medals, and the Spanish cycling legend is hoping for the same from the elite men’s team. “Juan is doing well,” he said, starting off on a positive note about Ayuso, who took a hard fall in the GP Québec but, after withdrawing from the GP Montréal, flew to the U.S. and had a good week of hard training there.

"He's doing well—very well, in fact. Juan is enthusiastic and motivated; he's looking forward to Sunday," said Valverde, who also received positive reports from Mas. “Enric is doing very well; he’s also very motivated. He’s recovered well from the Vuelta a España,” he said enthusiastically.

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After Wednesday’s recon ride, Valverde described the course as “very demanding.” It’s ideal for his top climbers, especially since the big teams—due to the ban on earpieces and thus limited communication—might not be as dominant as they’d like to be. “It wasn’t until after the reconnaissance that I realized just how tough this is going to be.”

Still, according to Valverde, Spain also stands to benefit from a controlled race, so that its climbers can be in a good position heading into the final stretch. “We can’t afford to lose face, so we have to stay in the mix at all times. We can’t let a breakaway group get away while we’re left behind. We’re very clear on that: positioning, staying alert, and conserving as much energy as possible.”

Ayuso seems capable of competing with the best on a great day, but Valverde finds it strange that Vuelta winner Mas isn’t really being mentioned anywhere as a contender for the World Championships. “He’s a great addition to our roster, a must-have for us. Juan is in good form and has a real shot, but so does Enric, of course. It’s good to have two options; that’s a privilege.”

"We need to make the most of our amazing team, though I'd be happy with just a medal. I'd love to become world champion, but any color medal would be fine."