Anton wins 19th stage

Bilbao -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 leader's red jersey.

Anton had been tipped as a leading contender in the general classification before the start of this year's race, but while overall victory is now out of the question for the 28-year-old, this win will offer considerable consolation.

The day's stage passed through Anton's home-town of Galdakao as the Vuelta returned to the Basque Country -- Spain's cycling heartland -- for the first time in 33 years.

Anton escaped early along with teammate Gorka Verdugo, Kazakhstan's 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.

As well as being an emotional day for Anton, the victory was an important one for his team, with the Basque outfit Euskaltel celebrating their first win on this year's Vuelta.

In the battle for the red jersey, Britain's Chris Froome of Team Sky tried unsuccessfully to break away from Cobo on the second climb of El Vivero in an attempt to eat into the Spaniard's overall lead.

There are no changes atop the general classification, with Cobo still 13 seconds clear of Froome.

Saturday's 20th and penultimate stage will be 185 kilometres from Bilbao -- the Basque Country's largest city -- to the Basque capital of Vitoria, and is likely to be Froome's last chance to snatch the red jersey from Cobo.

Standings

Stage:

1. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) 3h53min 34sec

2. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA/MOV) at 0:41.

3. Dominik Nerz (GER/LIQ) 1:30.

4. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/RSH) 1:30.

5. Chris Anker Srensen (DEN/SAX) 1:31.

6. David De la Fuente (ESP/GEO) 1:33.

7. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/LEO) 1:33.

8. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 1:33.

9. Eros Capecchi (ITA/LIQ) 1:33.

10. Bauke Mollema (NED/RAB) 1:33.

11. Serguey Lagutin (UZB/VAC) 1:33.

12. Daniel Moreno (ESP/KAT) 1:33.

13. Daniel Martin (EIR/GRM) 1:33.

14. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 1:33.

15. Mikel Nieve (ESP/EUS) 1:33.

16. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 1:33.

17. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (ESP/GEO) 1:33.

18. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 1:33.

19. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 1:33.

20. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/LEO) 1:33.

21. Maxime Monfort (BEL/LEO) 1:33.

22. Denis Menchov (RUS/GEO) 1:33.

23. Matthieu Perget (FRA/ALM) 1:33.

24. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 1:33.

25. Amets Txurruka (ESP/EUS) 1:33.

26. Marco Marzano (ITA/LAM) 3:41.

27. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/RAB) 3:41.

28. Carlos Barredo (ESP/RAB) 3:41.

29. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 5:13.

30. Markel Irizar (ESP/RSH) 5:24.

31. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/AST) 5:24.

32. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 5:24.

33. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 5:24.

34. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 5:24.

35. Tiago Machado (POR/RSH) 5:24.

36. Carlos Sastre (ESP/GEO) 5:24.

37. Jan Bakelants (BEL/OLO) 5:24.

38. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 5:24.

39. Alexandr Dyachenko (KAZ/AST) 5:24.

40. Ruslan Pidgornyy (UKR/VAC) 7:32.

41. Wout Poels (NED/VAC) 7:32.

42. Tom Slagter (NED/RAB) 7:32.

43. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 7:32.

44. Stuart O'Grady (AUS/LEO) 7:32.

45. David Le Lay (FRA/ALM) 7:32.

46. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 7:32.

47. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 7:32.

48. Xavier Zandio (ESP/SKY) 10:35.

49. Davide Malacarne (ITA/QST) 11:37.

50. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 11:37.

51. Adam Hansen (AUS/OLO) 11:37.

52. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 11:37.

53. Pablo Lastras (ESP/MOV) 11:37.

54. Luis ngel Mat (ESP/COF) 11:37.

55. Jess Rosendo (ESP/ACA) 11:37.

56. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 11:37.

57. Guillaume Bonnafond (FRA/ALM) 11:37.

58. Olivier Kaisen (BEL/OLO) 11:37.

59. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 11:37.

60. Vicente Reynes (ESP/OLO) 11:37.

61. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE/AST) 11:37.

62. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 11:37.

63. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 11:37.

64. Johannes Frhlinger (GER/SKS) 11:37.

65. Jos Luis Roldn (ESP/ACA) 11:37.

66. Gert Dockx (BEL/OLO) 11:37.

67. Paul Martens (GER/RAB) 11:37.

68. Koen de Kort (NED/SKS) 11:37.

69. Santo Anza (ITA/VAC) 11:37.

70. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 11:37.

71. Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL/LAM) 11:37.

72. Andrey Mizurov (KAZ/AST) 11:37.

73. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/OLO) 11:37.

74. Manuele Mori (ITA/LAM) 11:37.

75. Yevgeni Petrov (RUS/AST) 11:37.

76. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE/SKY) 11:37.

77. Andre Kashechkin (KAZ/AST) 11:37.

78. Marc De Maar (NED/QST) 11:37.

79. Kristof Vandewalle (BEL/QST) 11:37.

80. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 11:37.

81. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/GRM) 11:37.

82. Andrew Talansky (USA/GRM) 11:37.

83. Matthew Busche (USA/RSH) 11:37.

84. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 11:37.

85. Joan Horrach (ESP/KAT) 11:37.

86. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 11:37.

87. Nico Sijmens (BEL/COF) 11:37.

88. Martin Velits (SVK/HTC) 15:09.

89. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 15:09.

90. Jaroslaw Marycz (POL/SAX) 15:09.

91. Cyril Dessel (FRA/ALM) 15:09.

92. Aitor Prez (ESP/LAM) 15:09.

93. Mathias Frank (SWI/BMC) 15:09.

94. Josep Jufre (ESP/AST) 15:09.

95. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) 15:09.

96. Nicki Srensen (DEN/SAX) 15:09.

97. Antonio Piedra (ESP/ACA) 15:09.

98. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 15:09.

99. Nlson Oliveira (POR/RSH) 15:09.

100. Daniele Bennati (ITA/LEO) 15:09.

101. Peter Sagan (SVK/LIQ) 15:09.

102. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 15:09.

103. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 15:09.

104. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 15:09.

105. Matteo Carrara (ITA/VAC) 19:12.

106. Pim Ligthart (NED/VAC) 19:12.

107. Martijn Keizer (NED/VAC) 19:12.

108. David Blanco (ESP/GEO) 19:12.

109. Alan Marangoni (ITA/LIQ) 19:12.

110. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 19:12.

111. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR/KAT) 19:12.

112. Volodomir Gustov (UKR/SAX) 19:12.

113. Michael Albasini (SWI/HTC) 19:12.

114. Martin Kohler (SWI/BMC) 19:12.

115. Fabio Duarte (COL/GEO) 19:12.

116. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) 19:12.

117. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA/RSH) 19:12.

118. Leigh Howard (AUS/HTC) 19:12.

119. Bert Grabsch (GER/HTC) 19:12.

120. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LIQ) 19:12.

121. John Degenkolb (GER/HTC) 19:12.

122. Damiano Caruso (ITA/LIQ) 19:12.

123. Valerio Agnoli (ITA/LIQ) 19:12.

124. Juan Jos Haedo (ARG/SAX) 19:12.

125. Dario Cataldo (ITA/QST) 19:12.

126. Morris Possoni (ITA/SKY) 19:12.

127. Ian Stannard (ENG/SKY) 19:12.

128. Robert Wagner (GER/LEO) 19:12.

129. Albert Timmer (NED/SKS) 19:12.

130. Julien Fouchard (FRA/COF) 19:12.

131. Stijn Devolder (BEL/VAC) 19:12.

132. Matthias Brandle (AUT/GEO) 19:12.

133. Adrian Palomares (ESP/ACA) 19:12.

134. Pierre Cazaux (FRA/EUS) 19:12.

135. Jorge Azanza (ESP/EUS) 19:12.

136. Jos Vicente Toribio (ESP/ACA) 19:12.

137. David Bernabu (ESP/ACA) 19:12.

138. Jos Alberto Bentez (ESP/ACA) 19:12.

139. Benat Intxausti (ESP/MOV) 19:12.

140. Nikolas Maes (BEL/QST) 19:12.

141. Antonio Cabello (ESP/ACA) 19:12.

142. Roy Curvers (NED/SKS) 19:12.

143. Nick Nuyens (BEL/SAX) 19:12.

144. Jonas Jrgensen (DEN/SAX) 19:12.

145. Mads Christensen (DEN/SAX) 19:12.

146. Davide Vigano (ITA/LEO) 19:12.

147. Dario Cioni (ITA/SKY) 19:12.

148. Yoann Bagot (FRA/COF) 19:12.

149. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) 19:12.

150. Aleksejs Saramotins (LAT/COF) 19:12.

151. Yury Trofimov (RUS/KAT) 19:12.

152. Dmitriy Kozontchuk (RUS/GEO) 19:12.

153. Daniele Righi (ITA/LAM) 19:12.

154. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/AST) 19:12.

155. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/BMC) 19:12.

156. Matteo Montaguti (ITA/ALM) 19:12.

157. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 19:12.

158. Steve HOUAN (FRA/ALM) 19:12.

159. David Moncouti (FRA/COF) 19:12.

160. Tom Veelers (NED/SKS) 19:12.

161. Yukihiro Doi (JPN/SKS) 19:12.

162. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) 19:12.

163. Simon Geschke (GER/SKS) 19:12.

164. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/GRM) 19:12.

165. Andreas Klier (GER/GRM) 19:12.

166. Luca Paolini (ITA/KAT) 19:12.

167. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/SKS) 19:12.

Overall:

1. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (ESP/GEO) 77h59min 12sec

2. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) at 0:13.

3. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 1:41.

4. Bauke Mollema (NED/RAB) 2:03.

5. Denis Menchov (RUS/GEO) 3:48.

6. Maxime Monfort (BEL/LEO) 4:13.

7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 4:31.

8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 4:45.

9. Daniel Moreno (ESP/KAT) 5:20.

10. Mikel Nieve (ESP/EUS) 5:33.

11. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/LEO) 5:50.

12. Chris Anker Srensen (DEN/SAX) 7:04.

13. Daniel Martin (EIR/GRM) 7:22.

14. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA/MOV) 8:52.

15. Serguey Lagutin (UZB/VAC) 8:57.

16. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 10:31.

17. Wout Poels (NED/VAC) 11:42.

18. Robert Kišerlovski (CRO/AST) 13:27.

19. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 14:31.

20. Carlos Sastre (ESP/GEO) 19:51.

21. Eros Capecchi (ITA/LIQ) 20:22.

22. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 20:54.

23. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 21:06.

24. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 29:39.

25. Matthieu Perget (FRA/ALM) 33:11.

26. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/RSH) 33:14.

27. Guillaume Bonnafond (FRA/ALM) 36:38.

28. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/LEO) 40:19.

29. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 45:16.

30. Amets Txurruka (ESP/EUS) 47:23.

31. Tiago Machado (POR/RSH) 48:04.

32. Jan Bakelants (BEL/OLO) 48:06.

33. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) 50:47.

34. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE/AST) 51:28.

35. David De la Fuente (ESP/GEO) 1h00:03.

36. David Moncouti (FRA/COF) 1h00:11.

37. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 1h00:32.

38. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/GRM) 1h13:07.

39. Dominik Nerz (GER/LIQ) 1h13:07.

40. Fabio Duarte (COL/GEO) 1h13:16.

41. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/RAB) 1h15:23.

42. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 1h17:01.

43. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 1h20:36.

44. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 1h21:57.

45. Carlos Barredo (ESP/RAB) 1h28:39.

46. David Blanco (ESP/GEO) 1h31:14.

47. Pablo Lastras (ESP/MOV) 1h31:20.

48. Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL/LAM) 1h39:52.

49. Santo Anza (ITA/VAC) 1h45:30.

50. Johannes Frhlinger (GER/SKS) 1h47:03.

51. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 1h47:05.

52. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 1h47:47.

53. David Le Lay (FRA/ALM) 1h47:47.

54. Josep Jufre (ESP/AST) 1h48:26.

55. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE/SKY) 1h48:29.

56. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) 1h49:50.

57. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 1h51:51.

58. Davide Malacarne (ITA/QST) 1h52:48.

59. Cyril Dessel (FRA/ALM) 1h53:54.

60. Marco Marzano (ITA/LAM) 2h02:47.

61. Andrey Mizurov (KAZ/AST) 2h03:31.

62. Xavier Zandio (ESP/SKY) 2h08:01.

63. Luis ngel Mat (ESP/COF) 2h08:45.

64. Olivier Kaisen (BEL/OLO) 2h08:52.

65. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 2h10:12.

66. Yevgeni Petrov (RUS/AST) 2h13:29.

67. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 2h14:12.

68. Joan Horrach (ESP/KAT) 2h14:25.

69. Tom Slagter (NED/RAB) 2h16:43.

70. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 2h18:07.

71. Andrew Talansky (USA/GRM) 2h18:33.

72. Koen de Kort (NED/SKS) 2h18:40.

73. Matteo Montaguti (ITA/ALM) 2h18:51.

74. Morris Possoni (ITA/SKY) 2h19:44.

75. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 2h21:34.

76. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 2h22:17.

77. Antonio Piedra (ESP/ACA) 2h22:50.

78. Nico Sijmens (BEL/COF) 2h24:00.

79. Damiano Caruso (ITA/LIQ) 2h25:26.

80. Volodomir Gustov (UKR/SAX) 2h28:27.

81. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) 2h30:08.

82. Benat Intxausti (ESP/MOV) 2h30:21.

83. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/AST) 2h35:23.

84. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 2h35:40.

85. Vicente Reynes (ESP/OLO) 2h37:17.

86. Marc De Maar (NED/QST) 2h40:21.

87. David Bernabu (ESP/ACA) 2h41:36.

88. Gert Dockx (BEL/OLO) 2h43:12.

89. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 2h44:18.

90. Mathias Frank (SWI/BMC) 2h44:31.

91. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 2h44:59.

92. Markel Irizar (ESP/RSH) 2h45:34.

93. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 2h46:06.

94. Jorge Azanza (ESP/EUS) 2h47:21.

95. Alexandr Dyachenko (KAZ/AST) 2h51:45.

96. Jos Luis Roldn (ESP/ACA) 2h54:03.

97. Jess Rosendo (ESP/ACA) 2h54:31.

98. Andre Kashechkin (KAZ/AST) 2h54:57.

99. Valerio Agnoli (ITA/LIQ) 2h56:23.

100. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 2h56:46.

101. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 2h57:58.

102. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) 2h58:46.

103. Stuart O'Grady (AUS/LEO) 2h58:47.

104. Aitor Prez (ESP/LAM) 2h58:52.

105. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 3h00:25.

106. Pim Ligthart (NED/VAC) 3h01:13.

107. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA/RSH) 3h04:31.

108. Ruslan Pidgornyy (UKR/VAC) 3h06:45.

109. Kristof Vandewalle (BEL/QST) 3h08:25.

110. Martin Kohler (SWI/BMC) 3h08:29.

111. Matthew Busche (USA/RSH) 3h09:24.

112. Adrian Palomares (ESP/ACA) 3h09:30.

113. Simon Geschke (GER/SKS) 3h11:41.

114. Manuele Mori (ITA/LAM) 3h13:02.

115. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/BMC) 3h19:52.

116. Nlson Oliveira (POR/RSH) 3h21:45.

117. Peter Sagan (SVK/LIQ) 3h21:56.

118. Paul Martens (GER/RAB) 3h22:15.

119. Michael Albasini (SWI/HTC) 3h23:14.

120. Yury Trofimov (RUS/KAT) 3h23:41.

121. Daniele Bennati (ITA/LEO) 3h25:34.

122. Dario Cataldo (ITA/QST) 3h25:46.

123. Yoann Bagot (FRA/COF) 3h26:40.

124. Dmitriy Kozontchuk (RUS/GEO) 3h27:26.

125. Martin Velits (SVK/HTC) 3h31:43.

126. Nicki Srensen (DEN/SAX) 3h33:22.

127. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/OLO) 3h35:11.

128. Jos Alberto Bentez (ESP/ACA) 3h35:21.

129. Steve HOUAN (FRA/ALM) 3h37:30.

130. Ian Stannard (ENG/SKY) 3h39:08.

131. Adam Hansen (AUS/OLO) 3h39:36.

132. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 3h40:36.

133. Bert Grabsch (GER/HTC) 3h42:56.

134. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 3h43:59.

135. Luca Paolini (ITA/KAT) 3h48:10.

136. Julien Fouchard (FRA/COF) 3h48:46.

137. Jos Vicente Toribio (ESP/ACA) 3h55:14.

138. Alan Marangoni (ITA/LIQ) 3h56:48.

139. Jonas Jrgensen (DEN/SAX) 3h57:53.

140. Daniele Righi (ITA/LAM) 3h58:00.

141. Davide Vigano (ITA/LEO) 4h01:30.

142. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR/KAT) 4h02:41.

143. Dario Cioni (ITA/SKY) 4h03:56.

144. John Degenkolb (GER/HTC) 4h04:08.

145. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LIQ) 4h06:16.

146. Matteo Carrara (ITA/VAC) 4h09:37.

147. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/GRM) 4h15:06.

148. Pierre Cazaux (FRA/EUS) 4h17:05.

149. Jaroslaw Marycz (POL/SAX) 4h18:19.

150. Yukihiro Doi (JPN/SKS) 4h19:28.

151. Martijn Keizer (NED/VAC) 4h21:43.

152. Stijn Devolder (BEL/VAC) 4h22:36.

153. Leigh Howard (AUS/HTC) 4h22:38.

154. Juan Jos Haedo (ARG/SAX) 4h25:36.

155. Nikolas Maes (BEL/QST) 4h25:58.

156. Matthias Brandle (AUT/GEO) 4h27:25.

157. Roy Curvers (NED/SKS) 4h31:30.

158. Andreas Klier (GER/GRM) 4h34:08.

159. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/SKS) 4h36:54.

160. Mads Christensen (DEN/SAX) 4h38:26.

161. Robert Wagner (GER/LEO) 4h43:51.

162. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) 4h44:58.

163. Nick Nuyens (BEL/SAX) 4h46:32.

164. Albert Timmer (NED/SKS) 4h50:28.

165. Antonio Cabello (ESP/ACA) 4h54:53.

166. Aleksejs Saramotins (LAT/COF) 5h02:34.

167. Tom Veelers (NED/SKS) 5h09:04.