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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 7:36 a.m., Saturday, April 11, 2009

Cycling: Contador wins Tour of Basque Country

Associated Press

ZALLA, Spain — Alberto Contador won his second straight Tour of Basque Country title after extending his overall lead in the final stage.

The Astana rider finished Saturday's 15-mile individual time trial in 31 minutes, 59 seconds. He was 22 seconds faster than Team Katusha's Toni Colom, while Samuel Sanchez finished 45 seconds back in third.

Contador, who is using the 49th edition of the Basque classic as part of his preparations for the Tour de France, won with an overall time of 2:48.30 — 30 seconds quicker than Colom and 53 ahead of Sanchez.

Cadel Evans of Silence Lotto and Luis Leon Sanchez rounded out the top five.

Contador, who won the 2007 Tour de France, is the defending Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta champion.