Latest results

The Italian won Saturday's eighth stage between Tarragona and Lloret de Mar heading off Norway's Thor Hushovd and Italian Paolo Bettini in a sprint.

Spain's Roberto Heras finished outside the leading pack but stayed as overall leader for a third straight day.

The Liberty Seguros rider took control of the race two days ago and if he manages to hold onto the lead will win a record fourth victory in the event.

Stage eight result: (Sat)

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita / Fassa Bortolo) 4 hrs 19 mins 14 secs
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor / Credit Agricole) same time
3. Paolo Bettini (Ita/ Quick-Step) same time
4. Francisco Jose Ventoso (Sp / Saunier Duval) same time
5. Tom Boonen (Bel/ Quick-Step) same time
6. Heinrich Haussler (Ger/ Gerolsteiner) same time
7. Erik Zabel (Ger/ T-Mobile) same time
8. Arnaud Coyot (Fr/ Cofidis) same time
9. Markus Burghardt (Ger/ T-Mobile) @ 3 secs
10. Santos Gonzalez (Sp / Phonak)@ 3 secs
11. Marco Velo (It/ Fassa Bortolo) @ 3 secs
12. Unai Yus (Sp / Bouygues Telecom) @ 3 secs

Overall classification:

1. Roberto Heras (Spain / Liberty Seguros) 33:22:47"
2. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +12"
3. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC) +1:07"
4. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spain / Saunier Duval) +1:09"
5. David Blanco (Spain / Comunidad Valenciana) +1:11"
6. Francisco Mancebo (Spain / Illes Balears) +1:26"
7. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spain / Comunidad Valenciana) +1:39"
8. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spain / Quick-Step) same time
9. Unai Yus (Spain / Bouygues Telecom) same time
10. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Liberty Seguros) +1:58"