Deignan stays on course in Spain

Irish professional Philip Deignan today successfully defended his excellent ninth place overall in the Vuelta a España, and is set to finish in that position when the race ends tomorrow in Madrid.

The Cervélo Test Team rider will become the first Irishman to net a top ten finish in a Grand Tour since Stephen Roche finished ninth in the 1993 Giro d'Italia.

On Thursday, he became the first Irish Grand Tour stage winner in 17 years when he triumphed in Avila.

Deignan finished 40th in today's 27.8 kilometre time trial in Toledo, fending off the efforts of Spaniard Juan Jose Cobo (Fuji Servetto) to overcome the one minute three second buffer between them.

Cobo was 20th in the race against the clock but only took back 44 seconds of his deficit, and must be content with tenth overall.

Scottish rider David Millar (Garmin Slipstream) won today's stage, beating Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) by five seconds. Race leader Alejandro Valverde was 36 seconds back in seventh place and has a comfortable 55 second lead going into Sunday's final stage.

No changes are expected there, with the last day of a Grand Tour almost always ending in a bunch sprint.

Daniel Martin was 38th in today's time trial, clocking the same time compatriot Deignan, and will finish his first Grand Tour in a solid 53rd place overall.

The Garmin Slipstream rider is only in his second year as a professional and can also look forward to a big career.