Contador wins third Spanish Vuelta title

Alberto Contador of Spain (Paulo Duarte/AP)

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain — Alberto Contador won the Spanish Vuelta for a third time on Sunday after protecting his lead on the 21st and final stage, giving the Spaniard his sixth grand tour title.

Contador entered the concluding 9.7-kilometre (6-mile) individual time trial with a healthy lead of 1 minute, 37 seconds over fellow former Tour de France winner Chris Froome and focused on avoiding any slips on the rain-slick streets.

Froome finished the race second and Alejandro Valverde completed the podium.

Adriano Malori of Italy won the stage.

Contador won the Vuelta in 2008 and 2012 and clinched the Giro d’Italia in 2008.

The 31-year-old won the Tour de France in 2007 and 2009, but was stripped of a third Tour win in 2010 for doping.

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