 Valverde went one better than his 2008 second place in the Vuelta
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Alejandro Valverde sealed overall victory in the Tour of Spain by safely finishing Sunday's final stage.
The 29-year-old Spaniard crossed the finish line in the main pack to take his first win in one of cycling's three biggest tours.
Germany's Andre Greipel won the 21st stage in a sprint finish in Madrid at the end of the 110km leg from Rivas Vaciamadrid to the Spanish capital.
Spain's Samuel Sanchez was second, with Australia's Cadel Evans third overall.
His Vuelta triumph will provide some consolation for Valverde, who is serving a two-year doping ban in Italy.
That prevented him from taking part in both the 2009 Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France which passed through Italy.
Valverde has repeatedly claimed he is innocent and has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He did not win a single stage in Spain but remained strong throughout, helped by his Caisse D'Epargne team, and was able to respond to attacks by his rivals when needed, especially in the 14th and 19th stages.
Valverde has also won three other prestigious titles this year - the Dauphine Libere, the Tour of Catalonia and the Tour of Burgos.
Final general classification:
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne, 87 hrs, 22 mins, 37 secs.
2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 55 secs
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto, at 1:32
4. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas, at 2:12
5. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia, at 4:27
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank, at 6:40
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne, at 9:08
8. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre, at 9:11
9. Philip Deignan, (Ire) Cervelo Test Team, at 11:08
10. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Fuji-Servetto, at 11:27
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