Chris Froome became the third rider to achieved the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana double in the same season ©Getty Images

Chris Froome became only the third rider to win the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the same season as the Spanish Grand Tour drew to a close in Madrid.

The Team Sky rider also became the first British rider to win the three-week race, after negotiating the largely processional 117 kilometre route to the Spanish capital.

Alberto Contador enlivened the stage, as the Spaniard competed in his final professional race of his successful career.

The seven-time Grand Tour winner, who triumphed in yesterday’s stage, was allowed to move clear of the peloton as the race entered Madrid.

Competitive action sparked into life after the peloton rode across the finish line for the first time, with 45km to go.

Italy’s Alessandro De Marchi, Portugal’s Rui Costa and Australia’s Nicholas Schultz launched a three-man move in the closing 30 kilometres, with the latter last to be caught at 8km to go

With the break having come to an end, a bunch sprint proved inevitable at the finish.

Italy’s Matteo Trentin claimed his fourth stage win of the race by finishing in a time of 3hr, 6min and 25 sec, ending ahead of Lorrenzo Manzin of France and Søren Kragh Andersen of Denmark.

The Quick-Step Floors rider would miss out on claiming the points jersey by two points, despite his victory, as Froome sprinted to 11th on the stage to edge the Italian.

Froome would secure three jerseys, with the points adding to his successes in the combined and overall classifications.

The Team Sky rider would win the general classification by 2min 15sec from Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, with Russia’s Ilnur Zakarin ending third a further 36sec down.

Matteo Trentin triumphed on the final stage but missed out on the points jersey ©Getty Images
Matteo Trentin triumphed on the final stage but missed out on the points jersey ©Getty Images

“Just the fact that nobody's ever won the Tour and then La Vuelta afterwards, it's incredible to be be able to do it.

“And obviously I didn't do it alone.

“It's just been an amazing few months and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to that.

“I've been fighting for this victory for six years and three years I've been standing on the second step so it's amazing to stand on the first step this time.”

Froome became the first rider in 44 years to achieve the Tour and Vuelta double, following France’s Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault having done so in 1963 and 1973 respectively.

The French pair’s successes came when the Vuelta took place in the spring, prior to the Tour de France taking place.