MARKINA, Spain — Alberto Contador won the Tour of Basque Country for a third time Saturday, confirming the Spaniard's strong return to form with his second title of the year. The Tinkoff-Saxo cyclist defended the lead during the race's sixth and final stage, an individual time trial in which he finished second behind winner Tony Martin. Contador has now won the Tour of Basque Country and the Tirreno-Adriatico, to go with runner-up finishes at the Tour of Algarve and the Volta a Catalunya. He previously won this race in northern Spain in 2008 and 2009. Martin, the three-time world time trial champion, won the 26-kilometer leg around Markina in 38 minutes, 33 seconds. — AP
