Valverde in seventh heaven after victory

CYCLING Spain’s Alejandro Valverde ended a long wait for victory in the men’s road race at the Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.

The 38-year-old had finished on the podium a record six times without taking the rainbow jersey.

The 258km race ended in a four-rider sprint as Valverde held off France’s Romain Bardet and Michael Woods of Canada.