“I want to thank everyone for their support and the good luck messages I received today,” Valverde wrote on his Instagram profile. “Luckily it was just a scare and I’m fine.”
The message accompanied a photo of the veteran pilot in a hospital bed doing the thumbs-up sign with what looked like dried blood visible on his fingers.
Spanish media said the driver of the car fled the scene.
Valverde is one of the best cyclists of his generation due to his ability to ride both three-week grand tours and one-day classics. He won the 2018 road world championship, the 2009 Spanish Vuelta and a host of shorter races.
He said this season would be his last.
Valverde is not taking part in the Tour de France which started on Friday. He plans to race the Vuelta from August.
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