David Millar notched up a narrow but impressive victory in the Tour of Spain's final time trial in Toledo, beating Euskaltel-Euskadi's Samuel Sanchez and Aussie Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).
The stage itself was the last piece in the jigsaw for deciding the Tour of Spain's overall classification. As widely expected, Alejandro Valverde - seventh in the tt - is due to declared the overall winner, whilst Sanchez will take second and Evans finished third.
Millar looked more than comfortable throughout the 26 kilometre course starting and finishing in the ancient city of Toledo, taking his first individual win since the British National Time Trial Championships in 2007. It was also Garmin-Slipstream's third stage win of the race.
"For me it's huge to have done this," Millar said afterwards, "I've been working hard to get a win all year and I'm very proud of it."
"When I did the course this morning in the car it turned out to be much harder than I expected it to be from the route book."
"So I had to make up my tactics more or less on the spot, taking it a little bit steadier in the first part then going all out in the middle, but keeping a little bit back for the end."
"It was a beautiful course, with a little bit of everything."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Millar recognised that after several second places, the team had hit a purple patch recently, saying "we've had five or six wins in a row. It's strange but that happens sometimes with a team, suddenly there's a lot of victories."
Millar's victory confirms his great form for the World Championships, where he is expected to form part of the GB team in the road race next Sunday.
Results
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Stage 20, Toledo-Toledo ITT, 27.8km
1. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Slipstream in 35-53
2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5sec
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto at 9sec
4. Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia at 20sec
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas at 30sec
6. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto at 34sec
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 36sec
8. David Herrero (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia at 37sec
9. Jesus Del Nero (Spa) Fuji-Servetto at 40sec
10. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil at 43sec
Overall classification after stage 20
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne in 84-10-32
2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 55sec
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. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 9-08
8. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre at 9-11
9. Philip Deignan (Irl) Cervelo at 11-08
10. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Fuji-Servetto at 11-27
Millar on his way to victory in the final Vuelta time trial
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Latest news and features
Deignan delighted with hard-fought win over Kreuziger
Gesink okay to start Vuelta stage 18 after crash
Freire set for retirement in 2010
Unlucky Horner crashes out of Vuelta
Wegelius abandons the Vuelta
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Who will win?
Vinokourov back with Astana for the Vuelta
Britain and Ireland well represented in Vuelta
2009 Vuelta route favours climbers
Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Stage reports
Stage 19: Gesink slides down overall
Stage 18: Deignan takes Irelands first Vuelta stage win in 21 years
Stage 17: Roux takes solo win
Stage 16: Greipel storms to third win
Stage 15: Boom solos to win
Stage 14: Valverde suffers but strengthens lead
Stage 13: Unlucky Evans loses time on rivals
Stage 12: Hesjedal wins second stage for Garmin
Stage 11: Farrar takes first grand tour victory
Stage 10: Gerrans takes breakaway victory
Stage nine: Cesar wins as Valverde leads in la Vuelta
Stage eight: Cunego takes first mountain stage of 2009 Vuelta
Stage seven: Cancellara outpaces Millar in TT
Stage six: Bozic surprises sprint rivals to take win
Stage five: Greipel wins again and takes race lead
Stage four: Greipel wins after big crash wipes out bunch
Stage three: Henderson wins stage
Stage two: Ciolek takes first road stage, Hammond third
Stage one: Cancellara wins Vuelta opener
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Photos
Stage 18 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham WatsonStage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
USA Cycling unveils 2025 National Championship schedule with 17 chances to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey
Tech of the week: A shockingly expensive steel bike from Colnago, a surprisingly affordable carbon bike from Pinarello, DT Swiss energises our cycling lives and Pog's bars are now yours to buy
