Saunier Duval-Prodir´s Leonardo Piepoli of Italy, followed by Denis Menchov (R) of Russia, crosses the finish line to win the stage nine of the Tour of Spain "La Vuelta" cycling race between Huesca and Cerler September 9, 2007.
(REUTERS/Dani Cardona)
Pieopoli wins stage
Saunier Duval-Prodir´s Leonardo Piepoli of Italy, followed by Denis Menchov (R) of Russia, crosses the finish line to win the stage nine of the Tour of Spain "La Vuelta" cycling race between Huesca and Cerler September 9, 2007.
(REUTERS/Dani Cardona)
CERLER, Spain (Reuters) - Former champion Denis Menchov took the overall lead in the Tour of Spain after finishing second to Italian Leonardo Piepoli in Sunday's Pyrenean stage.
Piepoli and Russian Menchov went clear seven km from stage nine's summit finish in Cerler and crossed the line 17 seconds ahead of Spaniard Ezequiel Mosquera.
Menchov heads the standings by two minutes and one second from compatriot Vladmir Efimkin and is 2:27 ahead of Tour de France runner up Cadel Evans of Australia.
Overnight leader Stijn Devolder of Belgium dropped to sixth after suffering badly on the final climb of the day and finishing 4:58 behind the stage winner.
"Our aim was not to take the lead today." Rabobank rider Menchov told reporters. "Rather, we wanted to see how good a defense Devolder would make of his overall advantage on the climbs.
"I want to be cautious, there's still two weeks to go to Madrid and this is just the second day in the mountains. But I can only be pleased," added Menchov, who was declared winner of the 2005 Tour of Spain after Spaniard Roberto Heras tested positive for the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO).
Saunier Duval-Prodir rider Piepoli said that after collaborating on the final climb with Menchov, it was normal he should take the day's honors.
"Denis wants to win the overall classification, I want to win stages in the mountains. What happened was natural." Piepoli said.
"Menchov's the strongest rider in the Tour of Spain, so he's going to find himself with more friends than enemies from now on."
The Tour of Spain finishes on September 23 in Madrid.
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