 Valverde crashed out of this year's Tour de France |
Alejandro Valverde won stage seven of the Tour of Spain from Leon to the mountain-top finish of Alto de el Morredero on Friday. The Spaniard finished four seconds clear of compatriot Carlos Sastre, while another home rider, Jose Angel Gomez Marchante, was third.
Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic finished fourth to claim the gold jersey.
Valverde, who attacked from a small group of race favourites with less than 1km to go, is now second overall.
Overnight leader Danilo Di Luca cracked 10 km from the summit.
Stage seven result:
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) 4:01:05"
2. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Team CSC) +4"
3. Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa/Saunier Duval) +6"
4. Janez Brajkovic (Slo/Discovery Channel) +7"
5. Manuel Beltran (Spa/Discovery Channel)
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz/Astana) +12"
7. Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa/Cofidis) +16"
8. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz/Astana)
9. Stijn Devolder (Bel/Discovery Channel) +23"
10. Ruggero Marzoli (Ita/Lampre) +29"
11. Iban Mayo (Spa/Euskaltel)
Overall standings:
1. Janez Brajkovic (Slo/Discovery Channel) 26:48:27"
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) +5"
3. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Team CSC) +10"
4. Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa/Saunier Duval) +22"
5. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz/Astana) +23"
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