Anton wins 19th stage of Tour of Spain

Sports

Anton wins 19th stage of Tour of Spain

Close

Igor Anton of Euskaltel won the 158.5 kilometres 19th stage of the Tour of Spain.

10 September,2011 04:36 am

Basque rider Igor Anton of Euskaltel won the 19th stage of the Tour of Spain on Friday, a 158.5km ride from Noja to Bilbao in his native Basque country, as Juan Jose Cobo of Geox retained the overall leaders red jersey.Anton had been tipped as a leading contender in the general classification before the start of this years race, but while overall victory is now out of the question for the 28-year-old, this win will offer considerable consolation.The days stage passed through Antons home-town of Galdakao as the Vuelta returned to the Basque Country -- Spains cycling heartland -- for the first time in 33 years.Anton escaped early along with teammate Gorka Verdugo, Kazakhstans Aleksandr Dyachenko and Italian rider Marzio Bruseghin of the Movistar team.His success was built around an impressive attack on the second climb of El Vivero as much of the rest of the field struggled in suffocating heat.After pulling clear on his own, Anton crossed the line 41 seconds clear of Bruseghin and 1min 30sec ahead of Liquigas rider Dominik Nerz, of Germany.There are no changes atop the general classification, with Cobo still 13 seconds clear of Froome.Saturdays 20th and penultimate stage will be 185 kilometres from Bilbao -- the Basque Countrys largest city -- to the Basque capital of Vitoria, and is likely to be Froomes last chance to snatch the red jersey from Cobo.