Valverde Win Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta

Last updated : 23 February 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Alejandro Valverde won the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol after finishing the final stage in tenth place in Fuengirola.

Valverde had a twenty six second lead over Team Sky's Richie Porte going into the final 159.8km stage from Ubrique to Fuengirola.

The first attack of the day came on the Puerto del Boyar climb after twenty seven kilometres and comprised of Adrian Honkisz (CCC-Polsat), Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural-RGA), Laurens ten Dam (Belkin), Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Linus Gerdemann (MTN-Qhubeka), Tim Wellens (Lotto), Javier Megías (Novo Nordisk) and Julian Arredondo (Trek).

Gerdemann was first over the climb and leading the nine riders who had lead of 2.05.

That went out to 2.50 and with with Txurruka only seconds from taking over the race lead, Alejandro Valverde's Movistar team started to bring the escapers back.

Their lead was 2.15 over the category 3 Puerto del Viento climb but by the time they arrived at the final climb - category 3 Puerto de las Abejas, only eight riders were left with Adrian Honkisz being shed.

With 36 kilometres left and the gap at 1.10, Fuglsang and Dumoulin made a move. Tom Dumoulin of Giant Shimano stayed away, taking the final intermediate sprint of the race with 28kms to go.

Dumoulin was two minutes ahead when the peloton caught up and passed the seven escapers.

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas and Valverde took their turns on the front but inside the final twelve kilometres, Paolo Tiralongo (Astana), Pavel Brylowski (Activejet Team) and Jose Herrada (Movistar) chased after Dumoulin only to be collected by the peloton.

With five kilometres to go, Dumoulin was finally caught and Topsport took over.

However as the Topsport riders all looked at each, Moreno Hofland of Belkin came round the side and took the win ahead of Nikias Arndt , Kenneth Van Bilsen, Tom Van Asbroeck and Edward Theuns.

In tenth place was Alejandro Valverde of Movistar and the race overall was his.