Spain's Angel Casero won the 2001 Tour of Spain after overhauling fellow countryman Oscar Sevilla in a spectacular finale to the 56th edition of the race.
The 29-year-old finished the technical 38-km course around Madrid in fourth place, but he was one minute 13 seconds faster than his younger rival and took the overall winner's gold jersey by a final margin of 47 seconds.
Defending champion Roberto Heras lost third place to US Postal team mate Levi Leipheimer of the United States and had to settle for fourth position overall.
Casero, a specialist against the clock, was just 25 seconds down on his rival as the two went into the final time trial around Madrid.
And the Festina rider, oozing confidence and determination as he rolled down the starting ramp, drew on all his experience against the clock to claim his first major tour victory since he began his professional career in 1994.
With 12 kilometres to go Casero led by 26 seconds but the knowledge that victory was in his grasp spurred the 29-year-old on and he finished 45 seconds behind stage winner Santiago Botero of Kelme, and 1 minute 12 seconds ahead of Sevilla.
Casero was quick to point out the improvements he has made to his form in the mountains.
"What worried me most was the mountain time trial in Andorra, but when I saw I didn't lose too much time there (four seconds to Sevilla) I reckoned I had a serious chance of winning," he said.
"I have trained a great deal in the mountains, and my climbing has improved enormously, partly because I am two kilos lighter compared with when I took second in the Vuelta last year.
"Winning the Vuelta is something I have dreamed about since childhood," he added. "Now that my climbing has improved I think I will be able to fight for a podium place in next year's Tour de France."
Festina withdraw from cycling at the end of the year and Casero added that he had yet to decide who he would ride for next season.
Sevilla admitted he was bitterly disappointed: "I really thought I had a chance before the final time trial. However, today I went too hard early on and then paid the price when I burned out later on.
In the secondary classifications, triple stage winner Jose Maria Jimenez became just the third rider in the history of the Tour to take both the King of the Mountains and the points jersey.
His ibanesto.com squad also earned their place in next year's Tour de France after securing a comfortable victory in the team competition.