Anton takes back Tour of Spain lead
Wednesday, 8 September 2010 19:24Spain's Igor Anton seized back the overall lead of the Tour of Spain after powering to victory on the gruelling 11th stage in a summit finish in the Pyrenees mountains.
The Euskaltel rider finished 3sec ahead of compatriot Ezequiel Mosquera after the 208.4-km ride from Vilanova i la Geltru in northeastern Spain to the ski resort of Pal in the tiny principality of Andorra.
In third was another Spaniard, Xavier Tondo, 10 seconds behing the winner. Ireland's Nicholas Roche finished in 14th place, 51 seconds behind Anton.
Anton had held the leader's red jersey after the first week, but was knocked off top spot by countryman Joaquin Rodriguez, of Caisse d'Epargne, after Tuesday's 10th stage.
Rodriguez's bid to retain the lead was dashed in the final kilometres of the final climb when he dropped off the pace. He eventually finished in 17th place at 59 seconds behind Anton.
The 27-year-old Anton now holds a 45-second overall lead over Italian Vincenzo Nibali, of Liquigas, in the overall standings, with Cervelo rider Tondo third.
Roche remains in the top 10 but dropped one place to ninth overall, 2:30 behind Anton.
