Spain's Isidro Nozal widened his lead over his closest challenger, ONCE-Eroski team mate Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, to nearly two minutes on the last Pyrenean stage of the Tour of Spain today.
On the ninth stage of the race from Vielha in Spain to Port D'Envalira in Andorra, won by Spaniard Alejandro Valverde in a time of four hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds, Nozal finished in seventh, just three seconds behind.
Gonzalez de Galdeano and Spaniard Manuel Beltran of the US Postal-Berry Floor team, third overall, finished in 14th and 15th place, both 27 seconds behind Nozal.
While Nozal increased his overall lead, the day belonged to the 23-year-old Valverde of the Kelme team, who secured his eighth victory of the season when he beat Italy's Dario Frigo to the summit.