By Paul Logothetis
Alberto Contador won his second Spanish Vuelta title for a fifth triumph at cycling's major races, an especially memorable victory just over a month after his doping ban ended.
The Spanish cyclist navigated the straightforward and largely processional final leg into and around Madrid with ease to edge out Spanish compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Joaquin Rodriguez in the 21-stage race.
John Degenkolb won the 115-kilometer (71-mile) flat ride from Cercedilla for his fifth stage victory during this race.
Contador, who also won the race in 2008 and the Tour de France in 2007 and 2009, served a six-month ban after testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour.
All of his results in the past two years were erased, costing him the 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro d'Italia titles.
AP