Valverde finished the tough 138.7 kilometres journey around the Spanish city, which concluded with laps around the site of the 1992 Olympic Games village, in a time of 3 hours 8min 50secs to clinch top spot overall.

The 36-year-old, who last triumphed in the event back in 2009, ended the seven-stage race just over a minute quicker than compatriot Alberto Contador in 25:27:15.

Contador, who rides for the Trek team, was not able to finish in the top 10.

Marc Soler completed the all-Spanish overall top three as he was 1min 16sec adrift of Valverde.

Valverde narrowly edged Colombian Jarlinson Pantano to seal victory in stage seven, which came after he had launched an attack with Irishman Daniel Martin three kilometres from the finish.

"Today I felt good after a really hard stage yesterday, everything was easier today because of the team," the victorious Spaniard said.

"I knew Daniel {Martin] would attack when he did as he always does that and I worked very hard to stay with him and in the end I won by a hair's breadth."

The win gave Valverde his third triumph of the week at the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race as he also reigned supreme in stages three and five.

It proved to be a disappointing outing for Britain's Tour de France winner Chris Froome as the Team Sky rider languished down in 30th place overall.

Froome's slim chances of usurping the front-runners all-but came to an end yesterday and he struggled again today, launching an attack of his own which proved to be in vain.

Another WorldTour race, the one day Gent–Wevelgem in Belgium, also took place today.

Belgium's Olympic road race champion Greg Van Avermaet came out on top on home soil.

Slovakia's world champion Peter Sagan had to settle for bronze behind another Belgian in Jens Keukeleire.