( CNN ) -- Alberto Contador celebrated his first victory since returning from a doping ban as he won his home Vuelta A Espana for the second time on Sunday . The Spanish rider , who was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia victories after testing positive for a banned steroid , finished one minute 16 seconds clear of compatriot Alejando Valverde in the third and final grand tour of the cycling season . Valverde won the Vuelta in 2009 , but has like Contador just returned from a two-year suspension after being involved in the Operacion Puerto blood doping scandal . The 29-year-old Contador completed the three-week , 3,300-kilometer event in 84 hours 59 minutes 49 seconds to follow up his 2008 success and hold onto the red jersey . `` Thanks to all of you who have been there , both in good and bad times ! This victory is yours ! '' the Saxo Bank team rider wrote on his Twitter page after finishing 54th in the peloton in the 21st stage along the streets of Madrid . Movistar 's Valverde came home sixth to deny third-placed Joaquin Rodriguez the points classification jersey , while German sprinter John Degenkolb came home first to earn his fifth stage win . It was the second year in a row that Rodriguez was denied the points jersey on the final day . The race marked the end of the careers of France 's David Moncoutie , a four-time winner of the Vuelta 's mountain classification category , and fellow veteran Grischa Niermann of Germany , who were allowed a honorary run at the front of the field for the first intermediate sprint . The field lacked many of the top names from July 's Tour de France , which was won by Bradley Wiggins , but his Team Sky colleague Chris Froome did take part and finished fourth overall -- more than 10 minutes behind Contador . Contador is one of cycling 's biggest stars , and his controversial ban for use of clenbuterol -- small amounts were found in tests during the 2010 Tour de France -- was another blow for the sport , which has been plagued by drug scandals . Seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his titles after last month refusing to defend himself against doping charges laid against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency .
Two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador wins Tour of Spain . Spanish cyclist , stripped of last year 's titles , follows up his 2008 success . Compatriot Alejandro Valverde , also back after a ban this year , finishes second . Valverde denies fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez the points jersey .