Overall winner Team Radioshack's rider Christopher Horner (C) of the U.S. celebrates his victory next to Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde (2nd L) and Euskaltel-Euskadi's Benat Intxausti (2nd R), both of Spain, at the end of the Vuelta del Pais Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country) cycling race in Orio April 10, 2010.STRINGER/SPAIN/Reuters
Chris Horner of Team RadioShack won the Tour of Basque Country from Alejandro Valverde after taking Saturday's time trial.
Horner crossed the finish line eight seconds quicker than Valverde, who had a one-second advantage going into final stage, a 22-kilometre time trial in Orio.
The American rider used a better run up the Alto de Aia mountain to open a 16-second advantage over Valverde, who would make up half of that on the ride down. Horner finished in 32 minutes, 33 seconds.
"I had good legs today but, honestly, the whole week I had good legs," Horner said. "Yesterday I saved some energy because I wanted to be super today in the time trial. Already from day one in this race I was confident about this time trial."
Horner finished the six stages in 23:27:30 - seven seconds quicker than Caisse D'Epargne rider Valverde, who held the overall lead for the majority of the tour.
"Last year I just missed the victory in the Tour de l'Ain because of respiratory problems. Earlier I was close, too, in the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse. Now, finally, I am on the highest place of the podium," said Horner, who won a stage in Europe for the first time in his career. "Seventeen stage race wins is not bad, but I think this is the nicest one."
Valverde was satisfied with his performance, too.
"You must see the good part of it - Chris Horner is 38-years-old and I will be 30 in two weeks," the Spanish rider said.
Maxime Monfort of Team HTC-Columbia was 13 seconds behind on Saturday to finish third and edge teammate Michael Rogers by five seconds.
Benat Intxausti of Euskaltel-Euskadi crossed the line 21 seconds slower than Horner for third overall.
Joaquin Rodriguez, winner of last week's Volta of Catalunya, was 1:06 off Horner's pace for the Katusha cyclist to finish the 50th edition of the race fourth ahead of Jean Cristophe Peraud of Omega Pharma Lotto.
Garmin-Slipstream rider and Victoria native Ryder Hesjedal finished the final stage Saturday in 19th to place 12th overall.