While Spain's Alejandro Valverde is coasting to his first Grand Tour championship at the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday, Garmin-Slipstream's David Millar won the individual time trial in Toledo on Saturday.
It marked US-based Garmin's third stage victory in this Vuelta. First was Wenatchee, Washington's Tyler Farrar charging to a sprint win in Caravaca de la Cruz on Stage 11, then British Columbia's Ryder Hesjedal's survival in a breakaway to take the mountaintop finish in Alto de Velefique on Stage 12.
Except for the 2008 team time trial at the Giro d'Italia, this was the first Grand Tour victory for Great Britain's Millar since the 2006 Vuelta. Hats off to him.
Meanwhile, Australian Cadel Evans finally had some good fortune by moving into third place overall after the ITT on Saturday.
The Aussie, who led the Vuelta for one stage this year, has been trailing Italy's Ivan Basso. Then he beat Basso by about a minute in the ITT, giving him a 40-second lead over the Liquigas rider at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, Valverde lost some time to Samuel Sanchez in the time trial, but still leads by 55 seconds.
Although the Stage 21 finish in Madrid on Sunday will be contested by the surviving riders, it's doubtful that the golden jersey leader will be put into jeopardy.
Top 10 overall
1. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne
2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi — 55 seconds behind
3. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto — 1:32
4. Ivan Basso, Liquigas — 2:12
5. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia — 4:27
6. Robert Gesink, Rabobank — 6:40
7. Joaquim Rodriguez, Caisse d'Epargne — 9:08
8. Paolo Tiralongo, Lampre — 9:11
9. Philip Deignan, Cervelo — 11:08
10. Juan Jose Cabo, Fuji — 11:27
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