For the second year in a row, Nairo Quintana won the Vuelta a Burgos overall when he did one of the best time trials of his life to finish second on the final stage. The Colombian was surprised by his performance that boosted his confidence ahead of the Vuelta.

In an exciting contest, by only three seconds over his biggest rival during the week - Spaniard Dani Moreno (KAT) - Nairo Quintana completed an ideal return to competition after winning the Giro d'Italia with another overall success. The Colombian conquered the 36th Vuelta a Burgos after a 2nd place finish in the closing time trial, 12.4km in and around Aranda de Duero, with short slopes and long straights.

Despite the first time checks put the Movistar Team rider behind the Spaniard, both were equal through the first official intermediate - 8'04" after just over 6km. Quintana's better energy management would eventually give him an extra to tackle the urban run into the finish, crossing the line in 2nd place - just 1" behind Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM) - ahead of team-mate Imanol Erviti (3rd), whose good result, as well as Rubén Plaza's (6th), were a crucial reference which Quintana profited from.

It's Quintana's seventh victory of the 2014 season - his 22nd since becoming a pro - the second consecutive success for the Boyacá-born rider in Burgos and the 30th (just two short of 2013) for the Movistar Team, back on top of their game just six days before the Vuelta a España starts in Jerez.

"It's a reall important win for me, not just for the sake of victory, but also because it gives me massive confidence before the Vuelta a España," he said. "I'm sure there are rivals stronger than me at the moment, but this shows I'll be getting to the race in good condition, and provided that Alejandro and the rest will be strong again, this can only be good. I was really close to winning the stage, but my goal today was the overall, and we got it.

"I knew Dani Moreno was going to be hard to beat - he might as well be a rival in the Vuelta. I wasn't expecting to do such a good time, either. I started off calm, confident, and I took this TT also as a test for the Vuelta.

"I'm leaving this region happy with how I did - good form building up before the upcoming three weeks. I really like the race: well organized, really beautiful - it's a pleasure to win here again.

"I thank my wife for everything he did for me while I was getting ready for the race; this is for my daughter, Mariana, as well as my family and all Colombians since I know thew were paying attention on the TV. And of course, to my team-mates, just sensational as usual."