Contador wins final time trial to secure overall title at Vuelta al Pais Vasco

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Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) put his rivals to the sword on the final stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco with a dominant ride in the 16.5-kilometre time trial. The Spaniard won the stage, finishing five seconds ahead of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) with Sergio Henao (Team Sky) taking third at 18 seconds.

The win was enough to see Contador win the overall having started the stage six seconds down on Henao in the overall standings.

Contador took the overall win with Henao finishing second overall at 12 seconds and with Quintana moving onto the final step of the podium in third at 37 seconds back.

The win marked Contador’s fourth overall win the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, in what is widely expected to be his final season in the professional peloton.

“It’s unbelievable. I wasn’t really sure where my form was coming into this race but it’s right where it needs to be,” Contador said at the finish.

“It’s only a handful of seconds but it’s still a very special feeling to win here and I’m really happy with my victory.”

Contador’s form continues to impress. He won a stage and finished third overall in the Volta ao Algarve, before finishing second on the Tour of Catalunya and Paris-Nice.

For Henao there was no disgrace in losing, the Colombian was simply unable to hold his slim margin over Contador.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) was arguably the biggest loser of the day. He started the stage 10 seconds off the race lead but lost time at the first intermediate time check at 6.5km, and despite a demanding course with a large climb dominating the profile, the Frenchman was powerless to stop his main rivals. He even fell off the podium, thanks mainly to the blistering ride of Quintana, who rose from sixth to third overall. Had the Colombian not chose to change his bike from a road to a time trial machine for the latter part of the stage, he may have taken the stage.

Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) was another rider who impressed. The British climber led the stage before the main GC riders started and looked on course for an upset win until Quintana shot out from the start house.

The Colombian’s GC challenge looked over after he lost time on stage 5 but he rallied and put close to a minute into the main field by the time he reached the intermediate time check.

Only Contador, who looked the strongest he had looked all week, could better the Movistar leader as Pinot, Rodriguez and Mikel Landa all struggled with the main climb and its pitches that peaked out at 20 per cent.

There was no stopping Contador, however, who carried his momentum into the second half of the stage. Henao came back strongly on the descent and the final undulations before the line but it wasn’t enough. Contador sprinted out of the final few corners to take the win and his first stage race title since last June’s Route du Sud.

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