Nozal retained the leader's jersey

The Paternina team rider crossed the finish alone in just over three hours, 44 seconds ahead of a small chasing group.

Long-time race leader Isidro Nozal, of ONCE, retained his jersey after coming home 58 seconds off the pace.

Lobato broke away about 20 kilometres from the finish line and his win is the Paternina team's biggest of the year.

Stage 18:
1. Pedro Diaz Lobato, (Spa) ALM, 3 hours 7 minutes 47 seconds
2. Constantino Zaballa (Spa) KEL, 44 secs behind
3. Jos� Luis Arietta (Spa) BAN, same time
4. Raphael Schweda (Ger) TBI, same time
5. Jos� Garica Acosta (Spa) BAN, same time
6 I�aki Isasi (Spa) EUS same time
7. Joan Horrach (Spa) MIL, same time
8. Oscar Laguna (Spa) CRF, 52 secs behind
9. Carlos Garica Quesada (Spa) KEL, 56 secs behind
10. Erik Zabel (Ger) TEL, 58 secs behind

Overall Standings:
1. Isidro Nozal (Spa) ONE, 61 hours, 20 minutes, 42 secs
2. Igor Glez Galdeano (Spa) ESP, ONE 3 mins, 3 secs behind
3. Roberto Heras, (Spa) USP, 3 mins, 9 secs behind
4. Manuel Beltran (Spa) USP, 5 mins, 16 secs behind
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) KEL, 5 mins, 55 secs behind
6. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) BAN, 6 mins, 27 secs behind
7. Michael Rasmussen (Den) RAB 7 mins, 25 secs behind
8. Luis Perez (Spa) COF, 8 mins, 51 secs behind
9. Unai Osa (Spa) BAN, 8 mins, 57 secs behind
10. Felix Cardenas (Col) L2C, 9 mins, 28 secs behind.