{"product_id":"the-green-bullet-the-rise-fall-and-resurrection-of-alejandro-valverde-and-spanish-cyclings-corruption-9781474609746","title":"The Green Bullet: The rise, fall and resurrection of Alejandro Valverde and Spanish cycling's corruption","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eNew from award-winning author Matt Rendell, an examination of the phenomenal success of Alejandro Valverde and the moral decay at the heart of Spanish cycling.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew from award-winning author Matt Rendell, an examination of the phenomenal success of Alejandro Valverde and the moral decay at the heart of Spanish cycling.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A study of a dominant force, a true gentleman racer despite his shadowy past' \u003cb\u003eDan Martin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlejandro Valverde - the 'Green Bullet' - was an international symbol of Spanish cycling for a quarter of a century before his retirement in 2022. Hard-working and supremely talented, he won the Vuelta a España and stood on the podium of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. World champion in 2018, he was also the world's number-one-ranked rider four times. A man of indisputable charisma, he was also a convicted doping cheat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen the Spanish police investigation, Operación Puerto, uncovered a vast international blood doping ring, Valverde denied all involvement. The revelations unearthed by Operación Puerto threatened to force cycling off the road.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eValverde's long career was a high wire walk between the venal interests that surround elite sport in Spain. In a nation beset by corruption, political incompetence and social division, Valverde's talent aided the public image of unscrupulous political and economic institutions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven today, Valverde maintains his reticence. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Green Bullet\u003c\/i\u003e breaks the silence.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 514g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 163 x 244 x 31 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781474609746\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Matt Rendell","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44275734970618,"sku":"9781474609746","price":15.71,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1686308621909_book.jpg?v=1686475656","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/the-green-bullet-the-rise-fall-and-resurrection-of-alejandro-valverde-and-spanish-cyclings-corruption-9781474609746","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}