Alejandro Valverde wins Vuelta a Andalucia for fifth time in six years
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 19/02/17 4:20pm
Alejandro Valverde claimed victory in the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol for the fifth time in his career by a single second after Sunday's closing stage.
Valverde regained the lead in the five-day race on Friday's individual time-trial and his main rival Alberto Contador was unable to break clear and secure the two seconds advantage he needed.
Contador (Trek-Segafredo) and Valverde (Movistar) both rolled home in the peloton in the 179.3km closing stage, which finished in Malaga in conditions not exactly living up to the 'Sun Road' title of the race.
They were some way adrift of stage winner Tim Wellens, who got the better of a six-man sprint after the day's breakaway was able to hold off the field.
Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) had fallen 30km from the finish of Thursday's queen stage while away on a solo break, making his victory that little sweeter.
He got the better of Simon Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-NL Jumbo) after his rivals all tried to make late breaks from the leading group.
Nearly two minutes back, with rain still falling, Valverde crossed the line safely to win a prize he had also taken in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 - Team Sky's Chris Froome is the only other winner of the race since 2011.
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) finished third overall and it was also a positive week for Team Sky despite missing out on stage victories - Wout Poels took fourth, debutant Diego Rosa finished fifth and Mikel Landa came home in sixth.
