Alejandro Valverde made it five wins in six years as the Movistar rider finished safely to win the 2017 Vuelta Andalucia.
Valverde of Movistar went into the final 151.5km stage from Etapa Setenil de las Bodegas to Coín as the race leader with just a second lead over Alberto Contador.
Eight riders in Wellens, Minnaard, Bravo Oiarbide, Paterski, Campenaerts, Riesebeek, Clarke and Novac were into an early break with Bravo taking the Puerto del Viento category three climb.
Paterski took the points on the next climb – the Puerto de las Abejas as the lead went out to 6.15 after 72kms of racing.
The rain was still coming down as the gap dropped to 4.30 with 41.6kms left.
Minnaard took the climb and sprint before the break split and Tim Wellens and Clarke went away as Valverde took to the front of the pelotón.
The rest of the break caught Wellens and Clarke and with four kilometres to go, the group of Wellens, Clarke, Van Der Like, Campenaerts, Paterski and Novac were 1.13 ahead.
A game of cat and mouse developed with all in the break playing their cards close to their chests.
Campanaerts tried to get away but the rest caught him as the game came down to a minute.
Under the flam rouge and it was out of these six who would win the stage. Tim Wellens of Lotto Soudal went and he took a deserved win in 3.58.30 ahead of Simon Clarke of Cannondale.
The pelotón came home 1.46 later and Alejandro Valverde of Movistar finished safely in 15th place to take the overall victory for the fifth time in the last six years.
Article by Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG
