Italy's Leonardo Piepoli won today's stage nine of the Tour of Spain, the mountainous 162-km run between Xativa and Alto de Aitana.
Spain's Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros outfit was second and fellow countryman and team mate Isidro Nozal finished third. American rider Floyd Landis of the US Postal team retained the race leader's gold jersey.
With 500 metres left Piepoli, of the Saunier Duval team, raced clear from Heras, twice a Tour of Spain winner, and came home alone. "I've never won a stage of a major Tour before and finally I've got it." Piepoli said.
Nozal's hard work on the Aitana had shredded the leading group down to four before Heras attacked, taking Piepoli with him.
Landis was dropped with six kms to go, but did enough to hang on to the overall lead.
Filed by Johnny Proby
