Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde kept his composure on a tricky finish to claim victory on the eighth stage of the Tour of Spain on Saturday.

Frenchman Rudy Mollard, of the Groupama team, held on to the race leader’s red jersey.

Organisers had added spice to the finale of the 195.5 km race from Linares, the peloton forced to practically turn back on itself after negotiating a roundabout inside the final kilometre.

But the 38-year-old Valderde held his nerve to stay in sprint contention and proved strongest in a tight, uphill finish to pip three-time world champion Peter Sagan to the honours. It was his second stage win of this year’s race.

Sagan, of the Bora team, finished third with Dutchman Danny von Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo) in third place.