The 26-year-old Englishman was dominant throughout the three-week race across Spain, thriving on the toughest climbs and the flattest routes to secure the victory after a last stage in which riders didn’t attack the leaders under cycling tradition.
Yates’ Vuelta title means Britain has swept the three Grand Tours. Geraint Thomas of Wales won the Tour de France in July and Kenyan-born British rider Chris Froome the Giro d’Italia in May.
Yates, who rides for team Mitchelton-Scott, successfully defended his lead of almost two minutes in Saturday’s demanding 20th stage, the last competitive one since the peloton took off from Malaga on Aug.