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Valverde denies Contador for fifth Andalusia win

Movistar cyclist Alejandro Valverde (C) celebrates his victory between Trek-Segafredo cyclist Alberto Contador (L) and FDJ cyclist Thibaut Pinot, on the podium of the "Ruta del Sol" tour, in Coin on February 19, 2017

Veteran Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde claimed his fifth Tour of Andalusia win in six years as he held off compatriot Alberto Contador to win by just one second on Sunday. Belgium's Tim Wellens won the 151.5km fifth stage from Setenil de las Bodegas to Coin in a breakaway group in a time of 3hrs 58min 31sec from Australia's Simon Clarke and another Belgian Victor Campenaerts. Both Valverde and Contador crossed the line as part of the peloton 1min 45sec back. "It wasn't an easy day at all," Valverde told Eurosport. "It was cold, windy, rainy, there was all sorts, but in the end there weren't any attacks and that was better for us." France's Thibaut Pinot was third, six seconds back overall on Valverde. Contador was riding for Trek-Segafredo for the first time after his switch from Saxo-Tinkoff. And he admitted his decision to add the Abu Dhabi Tour this week to his schedule had influenced his decision not to take any risks in the wet conditions. "It was a bad day for racing with the wind and rain," said the two-time Tour de France winner. "We were almost thinking more in what there is to come. "I have to practically go directly to Abu Dhabi and we start to race there in three days, so I think my mind was already there."