Chris Froome looking forward to well-earned rest after clinching Vuelta victory

The Team Sky rider, the first Briton to win La Vuelta, revealed after sealing glory in Madrid on Sunday that he will ride in the team time trial at the World Championships in Norway later this month and then take a well-earned break.

He told Sky Sports News: "I've got the World Championships coming up in Norway. I will line up in the team time trial with the rest of the lads and, after that, I think I'll take a bit of a break.

"The Tour de France takes so much out of you and winning that then getting focused for another three-week grand tour is such a big challenge, so to do that (win La Vuelta) is phenomenal.

"I'm driven so much by the sporting challenge and the physical side of it, it's an incredible feeling.

"Right up until the last stage last night it wasn't over - anything could have happened.

"Obviously today's stage was a bit of a procession and a celebration, but it's amazing to cross the finishing line tonight. We can relax a little bit this evening and celebrate a remarkable achievement."

Froome sprinted across the line in 11th place behind stage winner Matteo Trentin, in the process edging the points classification over the Italian by just two.

As a result, he claimed the red, white and green jerseys and was presented with a special trophy to mark his double triumph.

Froome told www.teamsky.com: "I've been fighting for this victory now for six years and three years I've been standing on the second step. It's just amazing to stand on the top step this time."

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford was full of praise for the victor.

He told BBC News: "Every now and again, you see an athlete, a world-class athlete right at the top of their game who just gets it all right.

"They get all the little things right, they have got the right mentality, brilliant leadership skills, they're mature, they're confident and they just kind of win, they know how to win and that's what we have got in Chris Froome."

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali finished second in the general classification with and Russia's Ilnur Zakarin in third, although it was the Briton who claimed the headlines.

He is just the third man - Jacques Anquetil did it in 1963 and Bernard Hinault followed in his footsteps 15 years later - to win both races in the same season, and the first since La Vuelta was moved from before the Tour to after it.

Froome's winning time was 82 hours, 30 minutes and two seconds - two minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Nibali with Zakarin a further 36 seconds back.