Sergio Higuita sealed overall victory in the Volta a Catalunya on Sunday after the seventh and final stage won by Andrea Bagioli.
Higuita controlled the attacks of his rivals over a stage which finished with six climbs up the Olympic hill at Montjuic in Barcelona.
The Bora-hansgrohe rider held his 16s overnight lead on Richard Carapaz having gained the upper hand on the Olympic road race champion in Saturday’s long 120km two-man breakaway.
“I was tired after yesterday’s stage, I knew it would be tough,” said Higuita. “I was waiting for the attacks and they came.”
On Sunday, Bagioli joined the leading group in the final kilometre, winning a sprint finish ahead of Attila Valter.
The 23-year-old Italian achieved the second success of the week for his Quick-Step team, two days after Ethan Vernon.
“We’re all tired because it was a tough week,” added Higuita following a race overshadowed by Sonny Colbrelli’s collapse and heart problem after the first atage.
This was Higuita’s first WorldTour stage race triumph and his second success of the season after a stage in the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal last month.
