Radio Shack's Chris Horner won the Vuelta a España after finishing the final stage safely.
A superb second place on the 20th stage had given the 41 year old American the lead over Vincenzo Nibali and all Horner had to do was to finish the 109km stage 21 from Leganes to Madrid.
The stage of what has been a superb race was largely ceremonial and Following a quiet parade in the outskirts of Madrid through Pinto, the home of Alberto Contador, the winners of the teams classification Euskaltel entered the capital at the front of the bunch as a symbolic “adios” from the folding Basque squad.
Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) attacked at km 69 before being joined by Astana's Alessandro Vanotti (Astana) with 32kms to go.
On to the final lap around the Spanish capital and Aramendia and Vanotti were caught leaving the likes of Team Sky, Argos Shimano and Orica Green Edge to set up the sprint.
And a sprint it was with Orica Green Edge's Michael Matthews taking his second win of the race in 2.44.00 ahead of Tyler Farrar, Arndt, Meersman and Richeze.
Chris Horner finished 47th three seconds back and he finished 37 seconds ahead of Astana's Vincenzo Nibali to win the race.