Contador enjoys comfortable ride by taking second Giro

The 28-year-old Saxo Bank-Sungard rider, who also won the Giro in 2008, had the victory all but sealed before yesterday and carefully negotiated the streets of Milan to ensure there were no late surprises on the final time trial of the three-week race.

Britain’s sprint specialist David Millar of Garmin Cervelo won the final 26km individual time trial in 30 minutes 13 seconds to clinch his first stage in this year’s competition.

“I’m delighted,” said Millar. “It has taken me thousands of kilometres to get here and I’m very happy with this win.”

Contador, who finished third yesterday – 36 seconds behind Millar – was all smiles as he crossed the line at Milan’s Piazza Duomo, cheered by thousands of fans.

“It has been an incredible end to the Giro,” said Contador, a three-time winner of the Tour de France.

“It is a dream finish with so many people in the square.

“The result has been good and as a cyclist sometimes you have good moments in your career and other times you don’t.

“I’ve had great moments here and I’m very happy.”

With defending champion Ivan Basso skipping the Giro to concentrate on July’s Tour de France, Contador was favourite to dominate the 94th edition of the race and took the leader’s jersey from Rabobank’s Pieter Weening with 11 stages remaining.

The top overall British finisher was Peter Kennaugh of Team Sky in 87th place.

n Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins dominated the individual time trial on the fourth stage of the Bayern-Rundfahrt yesterday, finishing more than 30 seconds clear at the head of the field.

Fabian Cancellara of Leopard Trek came in second with Wiggins’s team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen third.

Geraint Thomas, also riding for Team Sky, finished fifth to take the overall lead in the race ahead of the final stage after he picked up a second place yesterday.

Thomas, 25, holds a 19-second advantage going into today with Nicki Sorensen in second place and Michael Albasini four seconds further adrift in third.

n Hull road racer David Shackleton secured victory in the Batley Road Race, near Cleckheaton.

The Wilson’s Wheelers rider won by about 20 seconds from the remains of a break, with team-mate Nathan Wilson helping ensure he took victory and salvaging second spot.

Covering 14 laps of a 7.5km circuit, the race-winning move went on the first lap with seven riders breaking clear of the 60-strong bunch. But Shackleton made a well-timed move on the final lap and crossed the line well clear of his rivals.

n Hull-based time triallist Joel Wainman (Team Swift) had to settle for second spot in the Manchester Wheelers 50-mile event in Staffordshire, 1min 44sec behind winner Julian Jenkinson.