Dutchman Tom Dumoulin moved a step closer to cycling immortality yesterday as he retained the race leader’s red jersey on the 19th stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

Just over a month after returning to the sport following a two-year doping ban, Spain’s Alberto Contador (SaxoBank-Tinkoff Bank) wrapped up overall victory at the Vuelta a Espana as the race finished on the streets of Madrid yesterday.

Alberto Contador has won the Vuelta a Espana title for the second time after he held off the challenge of Alejandro Valverde in the final stage between Cercedilla and Madrid.