Triumphant return as Contador reigns in Spain

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.

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

The 29-year-old Spaniard maintained a one minute, 17-second advantage over his rival and countryman in the 115-km race.

The tour was Contador’s first since he was banned after testing positive for clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France.

The final leg was won by John Degenkolb — his fifth triumph in this year’s competition — in two hours, 44 minutes and 57 seconds, the German rider finishing strongly to outsprint the rest of the field.

Contador finished 54th in the 21st stage and although Valverde came sixth, he had to settle for second.

Joaquin Rodriguez finished third overall, 21 seconds behind Valverde while Britain’s Chris Froome was fourth, almost nine minutes back.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche ended the three-week race in 12th overall.

The Ag2r La Mondiale rider finished safely in the main bunch yesterday, crossing the line in 34th place.

Elsewhere, Team Sky’s Luke Rowe won the opening stage of the Tour of Britain, taking the sprint in Norwich, which was overshadowed by a huge crash just before the final kilometre. Boy van Poppel (UnitedHealthcare) was second. Mark Cavendish (Sky) crashed with 1,100m to go, in a spill that involved a huge proportion of the lead group. That left about a dozen riders to go for the win, and Sky took the win. “Luke deserves it, he has been knocking on the door all year, has had some third and fourth places — what a day to shine for him,” said Sky team leader and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, who also took a tumble in the bunch finish.

Ireland’s Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) was best of the irish in fifth.