Valverde exits Dauphiné after weak Stage 4

SuperCycling | Valverde pulls out of Dauphine Libere

Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde, who finished 2nd-to-last on yesterday's climb to Mont Ventoux despite being an early Tour de France favorite, abandoned on the road at the Dauphiné Libéré today.

Valverde and teammate Francisco Perez pulled out at the 40-kilometer mark, complaining of a stomach virus. As for Thursday's result:

“It was the hardest stage of my life,” Valverde told journalists on Thursday. “I finished out of pure stubbornness.”