• Vuelta a Espana, Stage 21

Contador wins Vuelta a Espana

Alberto Contador won his home event on his return © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Pendleton: British Cycling glad I'm gone
  
• News: Cavendish coasts to Dumfries win
  

Alberto Contador marked his comeback with victory at the Vuelta a Espana as John Degenkolb won the final stage in Madrid.

Contador, competing in his first event since returning from a doping suspension, completed the final procession into the capital to finish on the top step of an all-Spanish podium, winning ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Joaquin Rodriguez.

Degenkolb, meanwhile, produced a perfectly-timed sprint finish on the streets of Madrid, holding off a late charge from Elia Viviani and Daniele Bennati to claim his fifth stage win of the race. Viviani was closing rapidly but was forced to settle for second as the German sprinter held firm.

Valverde finished the stage in sixth place to snatch the points jersey from Rodriguez, adding insult to injury after finishing ahead of the Katusha rider in the general classification.

Britain's Chris Froome, racing as Team Sky leader for the first time, finished fourth overall, having been on the podium last year.

Stage 21 top ten:
1 John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
2 Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
3 Daniele Bennati (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan
4 Allan Davis (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
5 Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - Sharp
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
7 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
8 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
9 Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Sharp
10 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

General classification top ten:
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 84:59:49
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +0:01:16
3 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha +0:01:37
4 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky +0:10:16
5 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha +0:11:29
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank +0:12:23
7 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp +0:13:28
8 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank +0:13:41
9 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi +0:14:01
10 Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar +0:16:13

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.