Dutch cycling ace Erik Dekker won the Ruta del Sol race here on Thursday, easily retaining his lead during the 171km fifth and final stage, which was taken by Spaniard Mickel Artetxe.

Dekker, 29, who won three stages in last year's Tour de France, was never troubled by his main challengers on Thursday letting a group of riders, who were not going to challenge for the overall lead, slip away to share out the finish.

Good and bad: American Fred Rodriguez was ninth in the final stage but 101st in the overall.

Photo: Graham Watson

Dekker first took over the race lead on Monday, when he finished second in stage 2, the 178.5km ride from Sevilla to the mountain finish of Santuario de Nuestra Senora de Araceli.

"I am very happy with this win," said the Rabobank rider. "I was sick throughout the whole of January and my form has returned out of the blue. Now I am going to get ready for the Spring classics and then take a break till the Tour de France."

AFP Copyright 2001