Nieve wins Vuelta 16th stage

Cotobello - Spain's Mikel Nieve won the 16th and toughest mountain stage of the Tour of Spain on Monday and compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez took the overall lead.

Nieve broke away from a five-man group eight kilometres from the Asturias summit finish of Cotobello just over a minute ahead of Frank Schleck of Luxemberg, with Belgium's Kevin de Weert third.

Rodriguez attacked late on the climb at the end of the 181 km stage to reclaim the lead he held for one day earlier in the tour.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali dropped to second overall, 33 seconds back, whilst Spain's Ezequiel Mosquera remained third.

The Tour of Spain finishes on September 19th in Madrid.

Stage Sixteen Results:

1. Mikel Nieve, Spain, Euskaltel Euskadi, 4 hours, 51 minutes, 59 seconds.
2. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 1:06 behind.
3. Kevin de Weert, Belgium, QuickStep, 1:08.
4. Joaquin Rodriguez, Spain, Team Katusha, 1:22.
5. Luis Leon Sanchez, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 1:32.
6. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, 1:40.
7. David Garcia, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, 1:42.
8. Nicholas Roche, Ireland, AG2R La Mondiale, 1:44.
9. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo, 1:50.
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas-Doimo, 1:59.

Overall Standings:

1. Joaquin Rodriguez, Spain, Team Katusha, 70 hours, 24 minutes, 39 seconds.
2. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas-Doimo, 33 seconds behind.
3. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, :53.
4. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 2:16.
5. Nicholas Roche, Ireland, AG2R La Mondiale, 3:01.
6. Peter Velits, Slovakia, HTC-Columbia, 4:27.
7. Thomas Danielson, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 4:29.
8. Xavier Tondo, Spain, Cervelo, 4:43.
9. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo, 4:53.
10. David Garcia, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, 6:23.