Cycling: Valverde savours Romandie success

Under threat of a ban by cycling's governing body, Alejandro Valverde replied by winning the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland yesterday. Valverde, who is prevented from racing in Italy because of alleged links to a doping investigation, won by 11 seconds over Slovenian Simon Spilak after coming home first in yesterday's fifth and final stage.

The Spaniard attacked with Denis Menchov and Spilak on the last of three climbs on the route. Australian Michael Rogers, the yellow jersey holder at the start of the day, lost more than 20 seconds in the finale and was in fourth place overall, 35 seconds behind.

"It was a hard day with the cold , rainy conditions but I proved this season I could adapt to bad weather," said Valverde, who was one second behind Rogers at the start of the stage.