Colombia's Lopez claims 'priceless' Vuelta San Juan victory
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Miguel Angel Lopez won the Vuelta a San Juan following Sunday's seventh and final stage.
SAN JUAN (AFP) – Colombia s Miguel Angel Lopez won the Vuelta a San Juan following Sunday s seventh and final stage claimed by Australian Sam Welsford in a sprint finish.
Lopez held onto the advantage he gained in Friday s queen stage when he won the only mountain finish in the Argentine tour.
It was a hugely satisfying victory for the 28-year-old Lopez, now riding for the Colombian Medellin-EPM team on the Continental Tour after he was dumped by Astana last year over alleged connections to a doctor suspected of doping links.
He claimed victory by 30 seconds from Italian Filippo Ganna of the British Ineos Grenadiers team, with fellow Colombian Sergio Higuita of Bora-Hansgrohe third at 44 seconds.
"This is a priceless victory. It s one of those things that you don t imagine is going to happen, but when everything is gray and it seems that the world is ending, you see that light," Lopez told ESPN.
"It s something beautiful, that comes at a good time and I feel that we deserve it."
Welsford of the DSM team claimed his second straight stage honors after also winning the sprint finish on Saturday s sixth stage.
