Contador wins Vuelta a Murcia

Alberto Contador was crowned winner of the Vuelta a Murcia today in only his second race back since being cleared by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation of doping charges.

The three-time Tour de France winner, who took over the race lead with a triumph on yesterday's second stage, held off nearest challengers Jerome Coppel and Denis Menchov to win today`s 12.4-kilometre individual time-trial in 14 minutes and 10 seconds.

Coppel and Menchov came in second and third on the day, respectively, and they finished in those positions in overall classification as well, Frenchman Coppel ending 11 seconds behind Contador, while Russian Menchov was an extra six seconds back.

Contador, riding for new team Saxo Bank-Sungard who he joined in August from Astana, finished fourth in the Volta ao Algarve last month, which he entered less than 24 hours after the RFEF cleared him to race again after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol at last year's Tour de France

The 28-year-old has maintained his innocence, claiming the substance was in some contaminated meat.

Although he was cleared by the RFEC, Contador could still face sanction for his positive test, with the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) having the right to challenge the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).