Millar takes Toledo time trial, Valverde secures Vuelta overall win

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Garmin-Slipstream has enjoyed a brilliant showing in this year's Vuelta a España - Tom Danielson's promise early in the race, Tyler Farrar's impressive sprint in Caravaca de la Cruz, Ryder Hesjedal's stage win atop the Alto de Velefique... and today David Millar improved the American squad's scorecard further by taking the win in Toledo.

The experienced British rider, who had stated in previous days he was aiming for victory in this world heritage-listed Spanish city did just that, setting a time that was never bettered by the race favourites or a dark horse alike. He has been relatively anonymous in this year's edition of the race, although he chose his moment of prominence late, with just one day remaining in the Spanish grand tour.

And while tomorrow's largely ceremonial stage into Madrid may effectively be Alejandro Valverde's victory parade, today's Toledo time trial provided the premliminaries for the Spaniard's coronation. As David Millar took a sword as congratulations for his efforts, Caisse d'Epargne finished with the crowning golden fleece on his back which he will wear into the Spanish capital.

That's not to say that the race for a podium place was over, however. Cadel Evans, having experienced heartache, justifiable frustration and a possibly overwhelming sense that the cycling gods had continued to cast their fickle finger of fate over him this year in Spain, was in a position to claw his way back into the top three overall.

While that fate has been largely cruel and certainly forgettable thus far in 2009, today's events will undoubtedly be memorable for the Australian, a strong showing in the test against the clock netting him a podium place which he will be able to celebrate on Sunday afternoon in Madrid.

His ride enabled him to overhaul the 14-second advantage Ivan Basso held over him at the stage start - by the finish in Toledo he held a margin of 40 seconds over the Italian, bumping Liquigas' captain to fourth place and keeping the Italian squad off the podium at the Vuelta a España.

Bells toll for the race in Toledo

Having vowed to do so, Garmin-Slipstream's David Millar set the fastest time earlier in the day, with 35:53 over the relatively lumpy 27.8km course. And as the favourites made their way onto the parcours, the Briton's time remained the benchmark such was the quality of his ride.

At every intermediate time check, the big names failed to overhaul Millar's advantage although they could be forgiven for keeping a closer eye on their rivals rather than securing stage honours in the Vuelta's penultimate stage.

The tightest of these battles was indeed between Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso. Just 14 seconds separated the pair, the Italian looking to take something concrete from season 2009; his podium spot would seemingly fit that bill, although Silence-Lotto's leader had other ideas. Meanwhile, there were also 33 seconds separating the Australian and second-placed Samuel Sanchez.

This battle for the dais followed the demise of Raboank's Robert Gesink, whose crash in stage 17 left the door open for the Australian to take a top three spot - after the events of the last week, Evans' success was going to be achieved the hard way, if anything else.

On paper Evans was capable of overhauling each of these riders based on his past performances in tests against the clock, although in reality it was only Basso who was in the Australian's crosshairs. He definitely possesses the pedigree to beat the pair and he made use of that quality with a rhythmic showing on a testing parcours.

After the first intermediate check Evans had indicated what was to come, reducing the gap to Basso to just three seconds while Sanchez's advantage over the Australian was down to 26 seconds. The Silence-Lotto rider was definitely on a strong run - by the second time check he had moved into the ascendancy over the Italian by a margin of 27 seconds.

Behind the duelling pair, Euskaltel-Euskadi's captain had only lost six seconds by the second time check, his chances against the rampaging Evans markedly better that Basso's and his second place seemingly safe. Even further down the road was the overall leader, Valverde, content to limit his losses, and with overwhelming support from the masses of fans lining the road he could smell a first grand tour title baking in the Toledo sunshine.

By the finish that's exactly what transpired - Valverde had held on to remain the leader, a time of 36:29 keeping him in first, with Sanchez's 35:58 and Evans' 36:02 slotting them into second and third overall respectively. Basso was the day's unfortunate son, finishing with 36:56 and slipping to fourth, 40 seconds behind what must be a relieved Australian - his podium place surely exorcising some of the demons remaining from this year's Tour de France