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Holland’s Lars Boom recorded an emphatic victory in stage 15 of the Tour of Spain.
The 23-year-old Rabobank rider broke away from the rest of the peloton on the second of two trips up the Alto de San Jeronimo.
There was no significant response from the pack, though, and Boom finished the 167.7-kilometre ride between Jaen and Cordoba, 90 seconds up on his nearest rival.
David Herrero of Xacobeo Galicia was that man to finish second, while Dominik Roels of Milram finished third.
“My main objective is the classics next season, and I’m riding the Tour of Spain with that in mind, as preparation for next spring,” said Boom.
“In any case, getting a stage win in my first major Tour is quite an achievement.”
All the main contenders in the general classification arrived at the finish together in the main bunch, meaning Caisse D’Epargne’s Alejandro Valverde retained the gold jersey.
The Tour continues on Tuesday with a 170.3-kilometre ride from Cordoba to Puertollano and concludes in Madrid on Sunday.
Stage 15 result:
1 L Boom (Netherlands/Rabobank) 4 hrs 12 mins 56 secs
2 D Herrero (Spain/Xacobeo) +1 min 36 secs
3 D Roels (Germany/Milram) +1:44″
4 L Duque (Colombia/Cofidis) +2:04″
5 M Iglinsky (Kazakhstan/Astana) ”
6 Alexandr Kolobnev (Russia/Saxo Bank) ”
7 M Velits (Slovakia/Milram) ”
8 S Martinez (Spain/Xacobeo) ”
9 A Efimkin (Russia/AG2R) same time
10 M Ladagnous (France/Francaise des Jeux) +3:23″
Overall standings:
1 A Valverde (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) 65 hrs 8 mins 50 secs
2 R Gesink (Netherlands/Rabobank) +31 secs
3 S Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +1:10″
4 I Basso (Italy/Liquigas) +1:28″
5 C Evans (Australia/Silence-Lotto) +1:51″
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