Alejandro Valverde takes World Tour lead with San Sebastian win

Published: August 3 2014 | 12:30

Last updated: August 3 2014 | 23:30

Alejandro Valverde makes amends for missing out on the Tour de France podium by surging to the top of the World Tour rankings with victory at the Clasica San Sebastian.

Movistar's Alejandro Valverde has soared to the top of the overall World Tour rankings after his solo victory in the Clasica San Sebastian yesterday.

The 34-year-old leapfrogged fellow Spaniard Alberto Contador and this year's Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali with the win.

Valverde now sits top on 462 points, a 55-point lead over Contador, with Nibali 70 points behind.

"The only thing we could do was race on full steam ahead like I always do when I put on a bib number. San Sebastián is a race I really like, even more with this route," Valverde told reporters.

"It's my second victory here, plus two other podiums. Ten wins already this season, now on top of the WorldTour, I can only be happy."

Elsewhere Belkin's Bauke Mollema rose to 11th from 19th in the rankings thanks to his second place in San Sebastian, while Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha climbed from 35th to 23rd with his third-placed finish.