A Spaniard finally is wearing the golden leader's jersey at the 2009 Vuelta a Espana after Alejandro Valverde made up a few seconds on former overall leader Cadel Evans on Stage 9 on Monday.
Valverde is one of the favorites to win the three-week bike race; the Caisse d'Epargne finished 2nd overall in the Vuelta in 2006.
US cyclist Tom Danielson was the 10th rider across the finish line on the mountainous 115-mile stage from Alcoy to Xorret de Cati. The Garmin Slipstream cyclist is still hanging onto 4th place in the overall competition, but slipped to 51 seconds against the Valverde.
Spain's Gustavo César Veloso won the stage, survived an early breakaway and led the race from nearly beginning to end.
Top 10 overall
1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Cadel Evans, Australia — 7 seconds behind
3. Robert Gesink, Netherlands — 36 seconds
4. Tom Danielson, USA — 51 seconds
5. Ivan Basso, Italy — 53 seconds
6. Samuel Sanchez, Spain — 1:03 behind
7. Damiano Cunego, Itay — 2:04 behind
8. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain — 2:24
9. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain — 3:01 behind
10. Juan Jose Cobo, Spain — 3:08 behind
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