Valverde closes in on Vuelta victory

Alejandro ValverdeLa Granja, Spain  - Local hero Alejandro Valverde on Friday closed in on the overall Vuelta victory when he finished second on the 19th stage behind compatriot Juan Jose Cobo.

Australian Cadel Evans finished third on the day.

More importantly than his second place was that Valverde managed to put some distance between himself and Robert Gesink, who went into the day in second place.

Velverde also got a time bonus for finishing second and now has a lead of one minute 26 seconds from Samuel Sanchez, who moved into second past Gesink.

The Dutchman Gesink struggled on the 179,8-kilometre long stage and lost more than five minutes, which gives him only an outsiders' chance ahead of Saturday's time trial in Toledo.

Several breakaway groups dominated proceedings throughout the stage but the favourites, including Valverde, did not let them build up too big a gap, thus making sure of catching them on the final mountain climb of the day.  dpa