 Valverde has been in great form in Spain |
Alejandro Valverde claimed his second successive stage victory in the Tour of the Basque Country on Thursday. The Spaniard clinched the 167km fourth stage from Vitoria to Alsasua with another late surge just a day after snatching stage three in the sprint.
Valverde, who rides for the Illes Balears team, just edged Italy's Danilo Di Luca and countryman Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero on the line.
Valverde's team-mate Aitor Osa retains the overall lead by just two seconds.
Stage four results (Thu):
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Illes Balears) 4:12:04"
2. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Liquigas) same time
3. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spain / Phonak)
4. Jerome Pineau (France / Bouygues Telecom)
5. Bjoern Leukemans (Belgium / Davitamon - Lotto)
6. Bradley McGee (Australia / Francaise des Jeux)
7. Patrice Halgand (France / Credit Agricole)
8. Ricardo Serrano (Spain / Kaiku)
9. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre - Caffita)
10. Josep Jufre (Spain / Relax)
Overall standings (Thu):
1. Aitor Osa (Spain / Illes Balears) 15:35:01"
2. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Liquigas) +2"
3. Patrice Halgand (France / Credit Agricole)
4. Davide Rebellin (Italy / Gerolsteiner)
5. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre - Caffita) +5"
6. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spain / Saunier Duval) +7"
7. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank)
8. Michael Boogerd (Netherlands / Rabobank) +12"
MMIX
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