Erviti Edges Roche To Win 18th Stage of Tour of Spain
Spain’s Imanol Erviti edged Ireland’s Nicholas Roche to win the 18th stage of the Tour of Spain Thursday, as his compatriot Alberto Contador kept his overall lead.
Erviti of the Caisse d’Epargne team and Roche of Credit Agricole recorded the same time in the sprint finish to the 167.4 kilometre (100.4 miles) stage between Valladolid and Las Rozas.
The French-born Roche moves up to 13th from 17th place in the overall standings, while Erviti remains outside the top 100.
Spain’s David Herrero of Xacobeo Galicia was third, one second back.
All three were part of a group of 16 riders who broke away from the peloton after about 50 kilometers.
The peloton, including Contador and his chief rival American Levi Leipheimer, arrived seven minutes and 29 seconds after the leaders.
If Contador - the 2007 Tour de France winner and reigning Giro d’Italia champion - wins the Vuelta he will become the first rider since Frenchman Bernard Hinault, over two decades ago, to win all three major Tours.
He holds an overall lead of one minute, 17 seconds over Leipheimer. The reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain is three minutes, 41 seconds behind Contador.
Friday’s 19th stage takes the riders 145 kilometers from Las Rozas to Segovia. The tour concludes in Madrid on Sunday.
Photo by: CorVos Pro
Categories: Features, Races, tour of spain
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