Visa requirement would have prevented any last minute decision
Although a strong ride in Beijing would likely earn him a WorldTour title, Alejandro Valverde’s Movistar team has confirmed that the Spaniard will not participate in the final race in that series.
Valverde is currently sitting third overall in the WorldTour standings, having clocked up 540 points to date.
Il Lombardia winner Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) leads with 607 points, while Sky’s Chris Froome is on 587.
Neither Rodriguez or Froome will travel to Beijing. With 100 points on offer for a win and six for each stage victory [plus a sliding scale of points for placings below that], a strong ride by Valverde in China could be enough for him to overhaul his 67 point deficit.
However his Movistar team has confirmed to VeloNation that he will not travel to the final WorldTour event.
Even if Valverde had wanted to change his plans and decide to go at the last moment, he would have been unable to do so as a visa is required to travel to China.
It means that with one race yet to be held, the 2013 World Tour title will go to Rodriguez, who also won in 2010 and 2012.
Full current standings can be seen here: