Russia's Denis Menchov won the Tour of the Basque Country on Friday after the fifth and final stage. The final two half-stages - a 72km race and an eight kilometre time trial - were won respectively by Jens Voigt and his CSC team-mate Bobby Julich.
Menchov, of the Baleares team, managed to hold on to the lead he had obtained after his stage win on Thursday.
In the overall standings, the Russian climber finished 21 seconds ahead of Euskaltel's Iban Mayo.
Menchov's Basque team-mate David Etxebarria finished in third place at 22 seconds adrift.
In the morning's first half stage, held over 72km, Menchov simply kept an eye on his main rivals for overall victory, finishing third behind Voigt and second placed Etxebarria.
In the ensuing time trial Menchov defied his diminutive stature to finish in a respectable fourth place at only seven seconds behind Julich.
MMIX
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