MURCIA, Spain (AP) Alberto Contador won the Vuelta de Murcia on Sunday in his second competition since avoiding a doping ban.
The Tour de France champion, riding for Saxo Bank, defended the lead from Saturday's mountain stage by winning the 12.4-km time trial in Murcia.
Contador set a best overall time of 9 hours, 27 minutes, 18 seconds.
French rider Jerome Coppel was 11 seconds behind for Saur Sojason, while Russia's Dennis Mechov, riding for Rabobank, was third at 17 seconds off the pace.
"I'm immensely happy about this victory," Contador said. "It proves that I have been doing my preparations perfectly."