Yates crowned Vuelta victor in Madrid

Briton Simon Yates was crowned the victor of the Spanish cycling tour, La Vuelta a España, on Sunday.

After 21 stages, he successfully defended his one-minute-and-46-second lead over Spaniard Enric Mas of team Quick-Step. The 26-year-old Briton took a total of 82 hours, five minutes and 58 seconds to complete La Vuelta, which started at the end of August in Malaga.

After an impressive last sprint in Madrid, Quick-Steps' Elia Viviani achieved his third stage win. Yet, as Yates achieved a faultless final race, he took the overall victory, making up for his failed efforts to maintain his lead in the Giro d'Italia in May.

While Yates celebrated alongside his Mitchelton teamates and posed for photos, Mas and the Colombian Miguel Ángel López of team Astana basked in their own glory, coming second and third respectively. Luis Ángel Maté, the local cyclist from Marbella, came in 106th.

British cyclists have taken centre stage this cycling season, as Yates became the third major tour winner of the summer. In Rome spectators saw Chris Froome claim his Giro victory, while Geraint Thomas became the first Welshman to win the Tour de France in Paris at the end of July.