Bury cycling star Adam Yates picks up big win at Volta a Catalunya

Yates finished ahead of team-mates Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas after the final stage in Barcelona on Sunday.

Belgian Thomas De Gendt won the last leg, breaking away from Matej Mohoric five kilometres from the finish line.

Victory sees Yates lay down a real marker with his new team, the former Team Sky, the 28-year-old picking up one of the most significant victories of his career to date.

He is this year for the first time racing on a different team to his twin brother Simon, of Team BikeExchange, who was ninth overall, finishing one minute and 32 seconds down on Adam’s winning time.

"It's been a good week,” said Adam, who finished fourth at the Tour de France back in 2016.

“We started off with big ambitions and we ended up 1-2-3 on GC.

“There's not much more we can say really. It was the perfect team performance. Even today was a really tough day, especially with this climb.

“It's a lot steeper and harder than I remember, but the team had it under control. It's a really special day.

"We wanted to win the race but in the end we had three guys in really good positions. We worked perfectly together and we controlled the race from start to finish.

"Two years ago I was close, I just missed out on that win. Now to come back and take the top step is great, and it makes it more special to see my two team-mates on the other steps."

Thomas said: “The team here has just been incredible, as you've seen on the road.

“Morale is good and I'm enjoying racing with the boys. It's unbelievable really to have a 1-2-3. It's an amazing feeling.”

Simon’s team were largely satisfied with their work, the Bury rider one of three Team BikeExchange riders in the top 10 with Esteban Chaves sixth and Lucas Hamilton 10th.

Sport director Julian Dean said: “It has been really good and a really successful week for us. Lot of guys came here with different objectives.

"The most pleasing thing was that the level of the whole team, it was really, really high.”