Colombia's Felix Cardenas of the Baque team won the 17th stage of the Tour of Spain from Plasencia to La Covatilla. Cardenas finished 29 seconds ahead of Spain's Santi Perez, while compatriot Roberto Heras took third, one minute and one second behind the race winner.
"It was a great win. I was injured before the Tour and didn't know what my form would be like," said Cardenas.
Heras held on to the overall lead, while Alejandro Valverde lost his hold on second after a poor final climb.
Stage 17 results:
1 Felix Cardenas (Col) Cafes Baque 4.52.08secs
2 Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak +0:29secs
3 Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros +1.01secs
4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto +1:15
5 Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis +2:05
6 Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa + 2:18
7 Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Paternina-Costa same time
8 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Paternina-Costa s.t
9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +2:45
10 Miguel A: M: Perdiguero (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir +3:03
Overall standings:
1 Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 63:28:41
2 Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak +1:13secs
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme +2:15
4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Banesto +2:16
5 Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros +5:55
6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +7:56
7 Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa +10:08
8 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Kelme +11:09
9 Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal +11:51
10 Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis +12:25
MMIX
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