By Matt Majendie

VALVERDE FACTFILE Born: 25/4/80 Nationality: Spanish Team: Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme Vuelta best: 3rd (2003) Valverde wins Vuelta stage

Tyler Hamilton has tipped Spain's Alejandro Valverde to become the next Lance Armstrong.

Valverde is among the favourites for the Tour of Spain and lies 10th overall after winning Monday's third stage.

And Hamilton told BBC Sport: "There's been a lot of talk about who will be the next Lance Armstrong and Valverde has the potential to be that.

"But he has yet to prove himself and, as one of the race favourites, needs to do so in the next three weeks."

Valverde, whose nickname is "the unbeatable", missed out on the Tour de France after his Kelme team failed to qualify.

But the 24-year-old has already impressed with third place in the Vuelta a year ago as well as winning this season's Tour of Burgos, one of 15 wins this season.

But Hamilton knows being tipped as a rival to Armstrong is easier said than done.

"People can talk all they like but, so far, no one's come close to Armstrong when it matters," he said of his former team-mate.

"And there are a lot of people in this year's Vuelta with plenty to prove - Valverde, Roberto Heras and myself."

Armstrong is the major absentee from a star-filled Vuelta line-up this year.

But as to whether his decision not to compete would detract from the race, Hamilton said: "It's hard to tell as he's only done the race once.

"Even without him, this is one of the best fields I've ever seen."