The 37-year-old Valverde, riding for Movistar, claimed the victory despite only finished ninth in today’s stage race on home soil won by Great Britain's Simon Yates, who rides for Mitchelton-Scott, in a time of 3 hours 28min 04sec in this International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour event. 

Valverde's title was secured after his closest challenger Bernal, riding for Team Sky, fell very heavily while travelling at high speed around a bend just six kilometres from the finish line in Montjuic Park.

The crash on the 154kmcourse resulted in the 21-year-old being taken to a hospital in Barcelona.

"I saw it all happen, right in front of me," Valverde said in the aftermath according to Cycling News.

"Today the roads were very slippy and dangerous and the crash was a lot of dirt on the road.

"[Jose Joaquin] Rojas' wheel went under him, Bernal braked and braked as hard as he could, and then he went flying, right over the road."

Valverde added; "It's a real pity, he was doing brilliantly and really trying to stay up there.

"It just goes to show you can never be sure of anything until you cross the final finish line."

Reflecting on his overall win, secured thanks to an overall time of 28:25:07, Valverde said: "It's been a very hard-fought race, and overall we did very well."

Following his crash today, Bernal, who had started the day in second, dropped outside of the rankings, meaning compatriot Nairo Quintana, riding for Movistar, finished second with France's Pierre Latour, competing for AG2R La Mondiale, third.

Over in Belgium, the 2018 Gent-Wevelgem classic, a one-day race on the UCI WorldTour calendar now in its 80th year, was won by Slovakian world champion Peter Sagan, riding for Bora-Hansgrohe, in a time of 5:07:32.

Sagan’s victory in the 251.1km event means he has now tasted victory in the race three times, having previously won the event in 2013 and 2016.

Quick-Step Floors' Italian rider Elia Viviani came second with France's Arnaud Demare, riding for FDJ, rounding off the podium.