Spaniard Alejandro Valverde proved he is in good form for the 2007 season by clinching the Tour of Valencia after Saturday's fifth and final stage. The Caisse D'Epargne rider, runner-up in last year's Tour of Spain, finished fourth on Saturday to top the overall standings ahead of Tadej Valjavec.
Elsewhere, Italian Filippo Pozzato put in a late burst of speed to win the Het Volk single-day race in Belgium.
He outsprinted Spaniard Juan Antonia Flecha and local favourite Tom Boonen.
The Liquigas rider completed the 125-mile (212km) course between Gent and Lokeren in five hours, four minutes, 38 seconds, broke clear 500m from the line and held on for victory.
The Het Volk launches the Flanders classics season although it does not feature in the UCI-Pro Tour calendar.
Pozzato, who will defend his Milan-San Remo title later this month, is only the third Italian to win the race.
Het Volk result:
1. Filippo Pozzato (Italy), Liquigas, five hours, four minutes, 38 seconds
2. Juan-Antonio Flecha (Spain), Rabobank, + 2 secs
3. Tom Boonen (Belgium), Quick Step, same time
4. Nick Nuyens (Belgium), Cofidis, st
5. Stuart O'Grady (Australia), Team CSC, st
6. Baden Cooke (Australia), Unibet.com, + 30 secs
7. Gorik Gardeyn (Belgium), Unibet.com, + 39 secs
8. Stefan Van Dijk (Netherlands), Skil-Shimano, st
9. Robbie McEwen (Australia), Predictor-Lotto, st
10. Steven De Jongh (Netherlands), Quick Step, st
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