Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde on Sunday won the 64th Tour of Spain without having adjudicated even one of the 21 stages of the race, thanks to a fierce control over rivals.
Caisse D'Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde (C) of Spain celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour of Spain next to second-placed Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Samuel Sanchez (L) of Spain and third-placed Silence-Lotto Cadel Evans of Australia after the last stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race between Rivas Vaciamadrid and Madrid, Sept. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
The winner of Sunday's final stage, a sprint, was Germany's Andrei Greipel, riding for team Columbia, in a dramatic race that ended on the streets of Spain's capital Madrid.
It was the first win in one of the world's major tour competitions for Valverde, who represents the Caisse D'Epargne.
The last stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race was held between Rivas Vaciamadrid and Madrid, Sept. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Fellow Spaniard Samuel Sanchez, an Olympic champion who rode for the Euskaltel Euskadi team, took second place. Australia's Cadel Evens was third, representing the Silence Lotto team.
French rider Moncatie won king of the mountains, for the Cofidis team, and German rider Creipel, representing Columbia, won the regularity prize. Spanish team Xacobeo Galicia won the team competition.
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