Contador had stayed in contact throughout the week, never more than 11 seconds off the yellow leader's jersey and using his time trialling skills to take the win by 12 seconds from Henao, with Nairo Quintana (MOV) in third.
It may prove to be a historic win for Contador, who stated afterwards that he was rethinking his plans to retire, thanks in part to his impressive performance throughout a week where he always looked in control.
Luis Leon Sanchez (AST) took the first stage, slipping away from the peloton on the final descent of the day along with Daniel Navarro (COF) to stay clear, although it was such a close call that they received the same time as the chasers, and another 50m on the stage distance may have seen the result be different.
In a hilly race with no flat stages, the first true mountain stage came in stage 2, and for the main contenders a key chance to make time on their rivals. Team Sky had clearly earmarked the stage for their two leaders, Henao and their winter signing Mikel Landa both well protected up to the brutal final climb. As the principles covered each other, Landa went clear with Wilco Kelderman (TLJ) and outsprinted his rival to take the overnight lead.
Landa retained the jersey through stage 3, a rolling stage which looked set to finish as a sprint until Steve Cummings pulled what is fast becoming his party trick, bursting away solo inside the last kilometre to just hold off the chasers. Simon Gerrans was left winning another sprint for the minor positions, as he did to take third in stage 1.
Landa's legs couldn't quite carry him to a third day in yellow, as he lost a few seconds in stage 4's final climb, giving Kelderman the lead as Samuel Sanchez (BMC) became the third rider in this race to just hold off the chasers after a late attack, descending quicker than the bunch and again finishing with the same time as the pack.
Stage 5 was the queen stage, but the main focus for the day was taken away from the yellow jersey by an astonishing solo effort from Diego Rosa (AST), who went alone for the final 100km to win by well over three minutes, even allowing himself time to coast the final few hundred metres and cross the line on foot, holding his bike triumphantly over his head.
Tim de Waele
Rosa was no threat to the lead despite his huge win on the stage, although Kelderman was unable to stay with the big names who had eyes on his jersey. Contador made the main bid for the lead, with Henao tracking him and the pair working together to put themselves in prime position, with just six seconds separating them in GC and each backing their own TT abilities.
Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) also finished stage 5 strongly, so the final time trial looked set to be a four-way battle between them, with Quintana an unlikely 31 seconds off the lead in fifth. Pinot and Rodriguez both struggled, dropping over a minute each, but Contador managed a very strong effort.
With Henao setting off immediately afterwards, there was no time to worry about pacing himself, but although he visibly dug as deep as he could, he dropped 18 seconds to Contador, who took his fourth win in the race, and he is clearly considering attempting a record fifth win next year, despite his previously planned retirement this year.
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Race winner Alberto Contador (TNK):
"It's a very hard race, one that is difficult to control and where a thousand things can happen. When I think about it, it still seems incredible that I won. After two second places in Paris-Nice and Catalunya, this is a nice victory.
"Recently, I have been pondering and thinking about my future with my entourage and most probably I will continue riding."
General Classification final standings
1. Alberto Contador (TNK) 22:44:43
2. Sergio Henao (SKY) + :12
3. Nairo Quintana (MOV) + :37
4. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 1:13
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) + 1:22
6. Samuel Sanchez (BMC) + 1:29
7. Rui Costa (LAM) + 2:19
8. Simon Spilak (KAT) + 2:47
9. Lawson Craddock (CPT) + 2:52
10. Wilco Kelderman (TLJ) + 3:14
Mountain Classification final standings
1. Diego Rosa (AST) 55
2. Stefan Denifl (IAM) 53
3. Nicolas Edet (COF) 28
Sprint Classification final standings
1. Nicolas Edet (COF) 11
2. Diego Rosa (AST) 9
3. Stefan Denifl (IAM) 9
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