Contador wins the Volta ao Algarve

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Alberto Contador (Astana) sealed overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve on Sunday as fellow Spaniard Luis Leon Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) won the final time trial stage.

Sanchez set a time 21:32 for the 17.2km stage from Laguna to Portimão. Contador was slower, with a time of 21:45, but won overall thanks to the precious seconds he gained while winning Friday's second stage. Luis Leon Sánchez finished the five-stage event second overall at 30 seconds, with Tiago Machado (RadioShack) third at 32 seconds.

As expected, Contador was not allowed to use his Shiv time trial bike because of new UCI regulations. He opted for a more standard red Specialized time trial bike instead.

Stage three winner Sebastien Rosseler (RadioShack) was third in the time trial with a time of 21:48. Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) was fourth with a time of 21:54 and Machado completed a RadioShack trio in the top five.

Spaniards scintillating in time trial finale

Of the early starters, Hugo Sabido (LA-Paredes Rota dos Móveis) set a benchmark of 23:45 for the journey to Portimão. But with the big hitters yet to start, the Portuguese rider's time would quickly drift down the time sheets.

As times tumbled towards sub-23 minute efforts, track convert Iljo Keisse (Quick Step) stamped out a 23:01. Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervélo TestTeam) held the lead momentarily as he broke the 23 minute barrier with 22:58.

David Millar's (Garmin –Transitions) hopes for the stage were dealt a blow as he crashed during his race. The Scot finished the stage but would end up almost six minutes down on the stage victor.

With 84 of the 138 starters across the finish line, stage four winner Sebastien Roesseler (RadioShack) continued his purple patch of form as he tore through the course in rapid fashion. His 21:48 would remain the mark to beat for the rest of the field.

Czech time trial Champion Frantisek Rabon (HTC-Columbia) rode strongly, but fell short of Roesseler's time by seven seconds. Finally, Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) eclipsed the Belgian's time to stop the clock in 21:32.

With six riders to follow, the Spaniard had a short but nervous wait to see whether any of his rivals could improve.

US rider Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) finished more than a minute down on Sánchez's time but capped an impressive ProTour debut with a sixth place finish overall.

Another name was struck off the list as Sánchez's teammate Rui Costa came through finish in 22:16. Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) went sub-22, in 21:54. Neither Euskaltel-Euskadi's Samuel Sánchez (22:07) or RadioShack's Tiago Machado (22:02) could improve on the leader's time.

The last man to start, Alberto Contador (Astana) remained the only rider out on course. The Spaniard brushed aside several days of polemics about his equipment to ride to 21:45, but could not improve on his compatriot's mark, finishing 13 seconds shy of the stage winner, Luis Leon Sánchez.