Spain’s 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, who rides for Astana, won the 14th stage of the Tour of Spain on Sunday to retain the overall race lead.
He completed the 158.4km mountain ride from Oviedo to the Fuentes de Invierno ski resort in 4hr 16min 1sec, followed by US teammate Levi Leipheimer, who was 2sec behind.
Spanish rider Ezequiel Mosquera of team Karpin-Galicia came in third place at 4sec from the leader.
PHOTO: EPA
With 2km remaining, Contador — who also won this year’s Giro d’Italia — attacked out of a group of three riders to cross the finish line in front.
He is now on track to make history by becoming the first rider to win all three major Tours since Frenchman Bernard Hinault three decades ago.
“I didn’t think I would win, I was looking to maintain my time differences but I felt well, there were people cheering me on and I decided to go for the victory,” Contador said.
His two most serious challengers, Spaniards Carlos Sastre, of CSC Saxo Bank, and Alejandro Valverde, of Caisse d’Epargne, trailed him during the stage.
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