Russian rider Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d’Epargne) won the Volta a Catalunya Sunday in Madrid.

Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) won the seventh and final stage, a 119.3km ride from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona.

Karpets, the 2004 winner of the Tour de France's white jersey for the best young rider, thus picks up his fourth victory of the season.

"To win such an important race like the Volta a Catalunya is something significant in a rider's career,” said Karpets. "The team started perfectly well, by being the best in the team time trial. After that we were able to control the race.

"I want to thank all my teammates for the great job they did, not only in the time trial, but also in all the other stages because they helped me a lot so that I can put on the white jersey here in Barcelona."

Stage
1. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 119.3km in 2:46:06 (43.09 km/h)
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 0:05
3. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, at 0:09
4. John Gadret (F), Ag2r, same time
5. David de la Fuente (Sp), Saunier Duval, s.t.
6. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d’Epargne, s.t.
7. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, s.t.
8. Matteo Carrara (I), Unibet.com, s.t.
9. Christophe Moreau (F), Ag2r, s.t.
10. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), Relax-GAM, s.t.

Final overall
1. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse D'Epargne, 22:21:05
2. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, at 0:40
3. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, s.t.
4. Christophe Moreau (F), Ag2r, at 1:34
5. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), Relax-GAM, s.t.
6. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Relax-GAM, at 1:59
7. John Gadret (F), Ag24, at 2:19
8. Marcos Serrano (Sp), Karpin-Galicia, at 2:39
9. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned), Unibet.com, at 2:44
10. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Discovery Channel, at 2:47