 The win boosted Freire's morale for the world championships |
Oscar Freire won the sixth stage of the Tour of Spain edging out Erik Zabel and Stuart O'Grady at the end of the 157km ride from Benicarlo to Castellon. It was the Radobank rider's first stage victory in the race since he took two stage wins in 2000.
Spain's Manuel Beltran remained as race leader with the same overall time as US Postal team-mate Floyd Landis.
"I didn't feel strong for this sprint but I was well placed," said Freire, a two-time world road race champion.
After O'Grady's Cofidis team had controlled the lead group in the last 20 km, Freire followed Zabel when the T-Mobile rider accelerated, overtaking him in the last 100m.
Freire, who was unable to compete in the Tour de France because of a painful boil, has abandoned the Tour of Spain three times in the past.
And he said he would not finish this year's race either because he is keen to save his best for the world road race championships in Italy on 3 October.
Freire's main rival in Verona is likely to be Olympic road champion Paolo Bettini of Italy.
But the 1999 and 2001 champion feels he will have the edge over Bettini, who took gold in Athens last month.
Sixth stage result:
1. Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 3hrs 48min 23secs
2. Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team
3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Confidis le credit par Telephone
4. Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi
5. Miguel A. M. Perdiguero (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
6. David Fernandez (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria
7. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
8. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme
9. Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Lampre
10. Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Relax-Bodysol all at same time
Overall standings:
1. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal 22hrs 35mins 39secs
2. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal at same time
3. Denis Menchov (Rus) Illes Balears-Banesto at 0.04secs
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 0.09
5. Cadel Evans (Aus) T-Mobile Team 0.16
6. Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal 0.23
7. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto 0.39
8. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Val'na-Kelme 0.47
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Col) US Postal at same time
10. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.50
MMIX
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