Alejandro Valverde edges sprint finish to take Tour of Catalunya overall lead

The 37-year-old timed his sprint to perfection as a reduced peloton finished into a headwind, with the Spaniard pipping Daryl Impey and Jay McCarthy to the line.

Valverde already has two Tour of Catalunya titles to his name and Tuesday's win leaves him well placed to add to that haul when the race enters the mountains later in the week.

"We spent the whole day at the front of the bunch because of the strong winds, which could have caused some splits as we saw in previous years," Valverde told reporters after his win. "After the break was caught, a window opened for us to go chase the bonus seconds, so we went for them. However, it wasn't on the team's plans to aim for the stage win, not at all. It was just that Scott got through the final climb at a really strong pace, and with the bunch strung out and many sprinters dropping, it was easier for us to seek for a good position into the main field - that was where we chose to go for the win.

"The finish was slightly uphill - I knew it well, and I kept in mind that it was good for me - and the work by José Joaquín from the summit of the climb was phenomenal, he kept me at the front at all times. I've won here in Valls with a solo attack, into a sprint... It's always beautiful to take a victory in this town and make a tribute to our friend Xavi Tondo, one we always remember wherever we go. It's also a victory for my son Iván, who broke his collarbone last weekend while playing football. I was so sad not to be able to support him at home - hope this victory brings some joy and strength to him."