Primoz Roglic clinched a second successive Vuelta a Espana title by finishing the processional stage safely as Pascal Ackermann won a photo finish in Madrid.

Roglic lost time on stage 17 on Saturday but not enough to take the red jersey from him, the Slovenian effectively ensuring he would retain the title.

His victory was confirmed in the Spanish capital, where a thrilling sprint saw a dramatic conclusion to the 18th and final stage of the last race of the season.

Bora Hansgrohe led matters going into the final kilometre of the 139.6km route and it was they who were celebrating at the finish as Ackermann edged Sam Bennett on the line.

Roglic also takes the green points jersey, with Guillaume Martin named King of the Mountains.

"It is beautiful to finish the season like this," Roglic told Eurosport. 

"I always say every time when you win it's beautiful. It's really hard. It's impossible to compare [the two titles]."


STAGE RESULT

1. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) 3:28:13
2. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) Same time
3. Max Kanter (Sunweb) Same time
4. Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) Same time
5. Jasha Sutterlin (Sunweb) Same time

CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS

General Classification

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 72:46:12
2. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) +00:24
3. Hugh Carthy (EF Pro Cycling) +01:15

Points Classification

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 204
2. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) 133
3. Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) 111

King of the Mountains

1. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) 99
2. Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) 34
3. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) 30