Roche up to fifth in Tour of Spain

Cycling : Ireland’s Nicolas Roche moved up to fifth in the overall standings after finishing eighth in today’s 16th stage of…

Cycling: Ireland's Nicolas Roche moved up to fifth in the overall standings after finishing eighth in today's 16th stage of the Tour of Spain from Gijon to Cotobello.

The Irish rider crossed the line one minute 44 seconds behind Spain’s Mikel Nieve, in the 181.4 kilometre stage.

Fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez regained the overall lead ahead of tomorrow's rest day.

The Vuelta resumes on Wednesday with a 46 kilometre individual time trial in Penafiel. The 21st and final stage concludes in Madrid on Sunday.

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Standings after the 181.4km Tour of Spain 16th stage from Gijon to Cotobello.

1. Mikel Nieve (Spain / Euskaltel) 4hrs 51mins 59secs"
2. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +1:06"
3. Kevin De Weert (Belgium / Quick-Step) +1:08"
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:22"
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +1:32"
6. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spain / Xacobeo) +1:40"
7. David Garcia (Spain / Xacobeo) +1:42"
8. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +1:44"
9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo) +1:50"
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) +1:59"
11. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +2:07"
12. David Moncoutie (France / Cofidis) +2:33"
13. Remy Di Gregorio (France / FDJ) +3:24"
14. Christophe Le Mevel (France / FDJ)
15. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia)

Overall standings

1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 70hrs 24mins 39secs"
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) +33"
3. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spain / Xacobeo) +53"
4. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +2:16"
5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +3:01"
6. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia) +4:27"
7. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +4:29"
8. Xavier Tondo (Spain / Cervelo) +4:43"
9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo) +4:53"
10. David Garcia (Spain / Xacobeo) +6:23"