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Overnight leader Roberto Heras finished in fifth, 49 seconds behind Menchov.

But the Spaniard, who won the event in 2000, 2003 and 2004, was handed a further 10-second penalty for racing outside the demarcation cones.

That left him 47 seconds adrift of Menchov, who now lives in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.

"It was a tough race but I kept my rhythm. Now there are four mountain stages to come and it's early days still," said the 27-year-old Russian.

Menchov came home nine seconds clear of Ruben Plaza and 37 seconds ahead of Francisco Mancebo, another Spaniard.

Monday's mountainous stage is between La Vall d'En Bas and Ordino-Arcalis.

Stage nine result: (Sun)

1. Denis Menchov (Rus/Rabobank) 1 hrs 00 mins 54 secs
2. Ruben Plaza (Sp/Comunidad Valenciana) + 9 secs
3. Francisco Mancebo (Sp/Illes Balears) + 37 secs
4. Carlos Sastre (Sp/Team CSC) + 41 secs
5. Roberto Heras (Sp/Liberty Seguros) + 49 secs
6. Tom Danielson (USA/Discovery) + 1:16
7. Victor Hugo Pena (Col/ Phonak) + 1: 36
8. Uwe Peschel (Ger/Gerolsteiner) + 1:39
9. Santos Gonzalez (Sp/Phonak) + 1:45
10. Oscar Pereiro (Sp/Phonak) + 1: 47

Overall classification:

1. Denis Menchov (Rus/Rabobank) 34:23:53"
2. Roberto Heras (Sp/Liberty Seguros) + 47 secs
3. Carlos Sastre (Sp/Team CSC) +1:36
4. Francisco Mancebo (Sp/Illes Balears) +1:51
5. Tom Danielson (USA/ Discovery) +3:07
6. David Blanco (Sp /Comunidad Valenciana) +3:23
7. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Sp/Comunidad Valenciana) +3:29
8. Santos Gonzalez (Sp/Phonak) +3:38
9. Michele Scarponi (Ita/Liberty Seguros) + 3.46
10. Ruben Plaza (Sp/Comunidad Valenciana) +4:11