Contador reigns in Spain

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.

The 29-year-old Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank rider maintained a one minute, 17 second advantage over his rival and fellow Spaniard in the 115-kilometre 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, with 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 will have to settle for second.

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