Alejandro Valverde is all over the news at the moment - first there are stories that T-Mobile tried to steal him away from Caisse d’Epargné (a rumor T-Mobile denies), and then the Spanish press says that when Operación Puerto doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was arrested last May he “had in his possession a black wallet which contained one clearly identifiable name; that of Valverde.”

Valverde isn’t the only name linked to Fuentes in this most recent story. In addition to Valverde, the other names found in Fuentes’ wallet were “Ale,” “Manc,” “Vino” and “Popo.” The Spanish paper “does not speculate on the identities of the other riders listed,” but come on - everyone and their brother knows those nicknames…

All in all, it seems the ProTour 2006 winner isn’t having such a great start to 2007.