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BELLEY, France: Veteran Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia secured the slimmest of overall victories in the Tour de l'Ain on Saturday following a close-run fourth and final stage won by Dutchman Wouter Poels.
Poels, of the Vacansoleil team, beat Frenchman David Moncoutie (Cofidis) to victory in the 126.1-kilometre between Culoz and Belley and which included the ascent of the Col du Grand Colombier.
After finishing first from an eight-man leading group, which included Zubeldia, Poels was credited with the same overall time as the Spaniard, who in the end was handed overall victory thanks to a winning margin of just 0.20 second.
Poels finished 10.20 seconds behind Zubeldia in last Tuesday's 3-kilometre opening stage time trial, and although he closed his 10-second deficit to Zubeldia by the final stage the Spaniard, in accordance with race rules, held on to his slight advantage.
Victory for the 33-year-old Zubeldia, who rides for the RadioShack team led by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, will boost the Spanish all-rounder after he was sidelined from the three-week epic in July due to injury.
Although primarily a stage racer who targets the three-week Grand Tours, the Tour de l'Ain is Zubeldia's second career stage race win.
Tuesday's prologue win was his first victory since he won a stage and the overall at the Spanish Bicicleta Vasca stage race in 2000.
- AFP/de
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