PARIS -- Tour of Spain champion Alberto Contador has capped his tumultuous season by winning the Velo d'Or award as the best rider of 2014.

Alberto Contador won the Tour of Spain, Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of the Basque Country in 2014. AP Photo/Paulo Duarte

The Tinkoff-Saxo rider succeeded Chris Froome, who won the 2013 Tour de France but crashed out of this year's race.

The 31-year-old Contador, who was also forced out of the Tour this summer with a leg fracture before recovering at the Vuelta last month, added successes at Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of the Basque Country this season.

Contador won his sixth grand tour title at the Vuelta, claiming his home race for a third time, to go with two Tour de France victories and one Giro d'Italia title.

The Velo d'Or awards are decided by a panel of cycling journalists.