Frustration covered Enrique Sanz's face after crossing the line on the circuit of El Pilar, in the northern Madrid city, where the Vuelta a Madrid came to a close on Sunday over a 99km, 18-lap course next to the famous Four Towers that make the Spanish capital's skyline. Carlos Barbero (CJR) took the day's honours after a courageous, no-stone-unturned attitude by the Movistar Team riders, directed here by José Luis Laguía.

Sütterlin, Anacona and Soler tried to get into the moves during a hectic, opening 30k, before the Catalan finally opened a gap that took him around 40 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. A bigger margin, around one minute, was opened by Anacona, eventually caught with three laps remaining by a bunch which Louletano, Efapel and today's main contenders Caja Rural led before Ventoso and Sütterlin hit the front in the last 3km.

Despite Sanz being in good position in the final kick, Barbero's rush before the line was superior and prevented a second pro win for the Movistar rider, who was also denied by another CJR when Pello Bilbao overtook him on stage one of the Vuelta a Castilla y León. There were no changes in the GC after Saturday's mountains, with Javi Moreno in sixth behind overall victor Evgeny Shalunov (LOK).

"It was a great work of the team and not just in the last kilometers, but the whole stage," Sanz said. "Anacona, Jasha, Marc were all in breaks and I played my card in the sprint. Sütterlin and Fran helped me in a great way but I failed. Barbero followed me well on the finishing straight and deserves this victory. I note that this year I'm getting closer. Therefore I have been up there today and in Castilla y Leon but what hurts is to have been so close during these two weeks without finishing it off. 

"That's right: I know that my role is not the one I've been having lately, but to work for the team , which is what I am asked to do. I take these opportunities with less pressure, taking advantage of the fact that our leaders are riding elsewhere, and I have been close. Next week I will be at the Tour of Bavaria. There I will again do a bit of everything."