Alejandro Valverde Wins The Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol

Last updated : 21 February 2016 By CNS Sport

Alejandro Valverde has won the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol.

BMC's Tejay Van Garderen was the leader for this final 164.2km stage from San Roque near Cadiz to Alto Penas Blancas near Malaga.

Thirteen riders including Team Sky's Ben Swift got in to an early break and they were 55 seconds ahead after 25kms.

Three riders in Ruben Fernandez, Simon Geschke and Tim Wellens got clear of this group and with 87kms gone they were 1.22 ahead of the peloton.

With their lead continuing to fall, Tim Wellens tried to get away heading twoards Peñas Blancas as Nicholas Roche of Team Sky and Jerome Baugines of Wanty Group moved to within thirty seconds.

They were all caught and Luis Angel Mate of Cofidis. attacked  He too was caught and Alejandro Valverde of Movistar, who was 22 seconds down on the race leader, put in an attack.

He did it with such force that no-one was able to keep up with him and Valverde rode away to win in 4.46.51.

There was a wait to see where the race leader would come in. Bauke Mollema of Trek Segefredo came home in second place some 36 seconds down, with Tinkoff's Rafal Majka in third at forty two seconds.

Then in came Tejay Van Garderen who had put in a late effort but the clock showed the American BMC rider finished forty eight seconds down and Valverde took the overall victory