SIERRA NEVADA, Spain, Sept 12, 2009 (AFP) – France’s David Moncoutie, riding for the Cofidis team, on Saturday won the 13th stage of the Tour of Spain, a 172km ride from Berja to Sierra Nevada.

Controversial Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde, of the Caisse D’Epargne team, remains in the overall lead as he bids to win the race after missing out on the Tour de France because he has been banned for two years by the Italian authorities after being linked to the Puerto doping scandal and the race went through Italy this year.

Valverde Keeps The Overall Lead

Valverde tops the standings by 27 seconds from Dutch rider Robert Gesink, of the Rabobank team, 1min 02sec in front of Italy’s Ivan Basso, of Liquigas, and 1min 23sec ahead of Australia’s Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto.

Evans Gets A New Wheel

Valverde, who contests the findings of the Italians, was delighted with the day’s work, especially at increasing his overall lead on Evans, who is desperate to redeem himself after an underwhelming performance in this year’s Tour de France.

“Today (Saturday), we have taken a huge step by taking more time off Evans, who is a time-trial specialist and can hurt me more than anyone else in terms of the overall victory,” said Valverde.

Moncoutie crossed the line alone having attacked three kilometers from the finish.

He was 52sec ahead of Spain’s Ezequiel Mosquera, of the Xacobeo team, while Valverde was 1min 16sec off the pace.

Moncoutie confessed that he had to stay focused the whole way to the line.

“I had to make a huge effort to keep going on my own because I thought throughout the stage and especially in the final parts of the stage that Damiano Cunego could come up and beat me,” said the Frenchman.

The race took its toll on Saturday with 10 riders pulling out, including Belgian star Tom Boonen and Spain’s Oscar Freire, who announced he was to retire from the sport next year, but according to the race organizers the duo’s decision to call it a day was down to the upcoming world road race championships.

On Sunday, the race faces its last stage in the mountains with a finish at Sierra de La Pandera.