Cycling:Joaquim Rodriguez ended a 27-year wait for a Catalan-born rider to win cycling's second oldest stage race again when he claimed victory in the Tour of Catalunya. Ireland's Nicolas Roche was third in today's seventh and final stage to finish fifth overall.
Rodriguez’s young son Pablo and wife Yolanda, plus scores of relatives and friends from his nearby home village of Parets del Valles, clapped and cheered as the Katusha rider donned the winner's green and white jersey.
Jose Recio was the last Catalan-born rider to win the race back in 1983 in the race which dates back to 1911.
"Racing in Catalunya always gives you extra motivation because it's my home event," said the 30-year-old Rodriguez. "But for me the most important thing is I've won one of cycling's most prestigious races."
A former national champion and stage winner of the Tour of Spain, Rodriguez said his victory in Catalunya had been strongly influenced by changing teams from local squad Caisse D'Epargne to Russian team Katusha this year.
"I've got far more freedom of action now," the 2009 world championships bronze medallist said. "For example, beforehand I would never have been allowed to get in the breakaway that earned me the overall lead here (on stage three)."
Second overall was another Catalan-born rider, Xavier Tondo, 10 seconds back, with Estonia's Rein Taaramae in third at 43 adrift.
The seventh and final stage, a 117.8km trek finishing on the motor racing circuit at Montmelo, was won by Argentina's Juan Jose Haedo in a bunch sprint.
Second behind the Saxo Bank rider was Germany's Robert Forster, with Roche coming home in third. The AG2R rider finished one minute 20 seconds behind Rodriguez in the overall standings.
Official result and overall standings after the 117.8km seventh and final stage of the Tour of Catalunya from Sant Cugat del Valles to Montmelo.
1. Juan Jose Haedo (Argentina/Saxo Bank) 2 hrs 32 mins 21 secs
2. Robert Foerster (Germany / Milram) same time
3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R)
4. Davide Vigano (Italy / Team Sky)
5. Sebastian Haedo (Argentina / Saxo Bank)
6. Aitor Galdos (Spain / Euskaltel)
7. Manuel Cardoso (Portugal / Footon)
8. Paul Voss (Germany / Milram)
9. Andreas Stauff (Germany / Quick-Step)
10. David Loosli (Switzerland / Lampre)
Final overall standings
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) 25 hrs 16 mins 03 secs
2. Xavier Tondo (Spain / Cervelo) +10 secs
3. Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis) +43 secs
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +45 secs
5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +1 min 20 secs
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Canada / Garmin)
7. Michel Kreder (Netherlands / Garmin) +1 min 21 secs
8. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +1 min 22 secs
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia / RadioShack) +1 min 25 secs
10. Remy Di Gregorio (France/Francaise des Jeux)+1 min 26 secs