Alberto Bettiol lead the Italians and Iván Cortina García heads up Spain as both nations race Sunday in the unfamiliar role as outsiders in the elite men's road race.
At nearly 42 years old, Alejandro Valverde touched victory in the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday at the top of the Mur de Huy, where the Spanish veteran was only beaten by the Belgian Dylan Teuns.