Cycling: Contador seals Route du Sud cycling title
Alberto Contador won the four-day Route du Sud on Sunday.
GAILLAC (AFP) - Alberto Contador completed his expected victory at the four-day Route du Sud as Frenchman Bryan Coquard won Sunday s 166km final stage in a sprint finish.
Giro d Italia champion Contador had won the race s queen stage on Saturday -- the only stage in which serious time differences could be expected -- ahead of Nairo Quintana.
For both Contador and the man he succeeded as Tour of Italy champion Quintana were completing their final warm-up race before the Tour de France, which begins on July 4 in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Both caused a surprise by opting to ride the Route du Sud instead of the traditional week-long Tour warm-up events, the Criterium du Dauphine and Tour of Switzerland.
And Contador, 32, attacked his 25-year-old rival on the descent into the finish at Bagneres-de-Luchon on Saturday after the pair crested the top of the final climb together.
The 17sec advantage, which included a time bonus, Contador earned then remained the final winning margin.
Tinkoff-Saxo s Contador will be looking for a third Tour title in July having also won in 2007 and 2009, while Movistar s Quintana will be aiming to better his second-placed finish from two years ago.
The pair are expected to fight for the Grand Boucle crown alongside the last two Tour winners, champion Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome.
