Alejandro Valverde was quick to name the Tours of Italy and France as his major 2010 targets after success on Sunday in the Tour of Spain.

"I don't think a victory in either can be more difficult than the Tour of Spain I've just won," the Spaniard told reporters.

"Everybody had doubts over my chances of winning a Grand Tour, but now those doubts have gone.".

Victorious in 59 races in his eight-year career, the Caisse D'Epargne rider said: "I've won everything else (except a major Tour) so finally taking one is a very special feeling.

"I didn't get any stages along the way, but sometimes if you want something big like a Tour you have to sacrifice smaller things."

Valverde was accompanied onto the final podium by Spain's Samuel Sanchez, second at 55 seconds, with Australian Cadel Evans in third at 1:32.

Barred from racing in Italy since May for alleged links to the Operation Puerto anti-doping investigation, Valverde racked up victories this season in the Tour of Catalonia, the Dauphine Libere and the Tour of Burgos before Sunday's success.

Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) say that blood samples Valverde gave at a doping control when last year's Tour de France entered Italy for a stage, matched DNA from code-named bags of blood discovered in Operation Puerto, launched in 2006.

Valverde has repeatedly claimed he is innocent and appealed against the ban to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Valverde's final objective this season is the World Championships next weekend in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

"The important thing is that the Spanish are united as a team," he said.

"If we have the same objectives then anything is possible."