Cycling:Nicolas Roche edged back towards a top five finish at the Vuelta a España after an eventful 19th stage today. Roche climbed on place to seventh in the overall standings, despite suffering an puncture early in the stage.
While a podium finish is almost certainly beyond his reach with just two stages remaining, Roche moved ahead of the American Tom Danielson and kept in touch with those around him in the general classification.
Indeed, just 16 seconds separate the Irish rider from Joaquim Rodriguez in fourth place, time that can easily be made up during tomorrow’s final mountain stage.
Belgian Philippe Gilbert claimed his second win of this year's tour, while Italy's Vincenzo Nibali held on to the overall lead. Tyler Farrar finished second behind Gilbert after racing from Piedrahita to Toledo.
The winner of stage three to Malaga and the leader of the race for five days during the first week, Gilbert attacked 600 metres from the uphill finish in Toledo.
"Very technical finish but I had a lot of help from my team to get in the right position before the climb," Gilbert told Spanish television.
Stage result
1. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 5h 43m 41s
2. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Garmin) same time
3. Filippo Pozzato (Italy / Katusha) +1"
4. Sebastien Hinault (France / AG2R)
5. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia)
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas)
7. Nikolas Maes (Belgium / Quick-Step)
8. Grega Bole (Slovenia / Lampre)
9. Daniele Bennati (Italy / Liquigas)
10. Paul Voss (Germany / Milram) +4"
Overall standings
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) 80h 30m 48s
2. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spain / Xacobeo) +50"
3. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia) +1:59"
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +3:54"
5. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +3:57"
6. Xavier Tondo (Spain / Cervelo) +4:02"
7.
Nicolas Roche(Ireland / AG2R) +4:10"
8. Tom Danielson (USA / Garmin) +4:12"
9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo) +4:28"
10. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +5:50"