Cobo claims Stage 19

Photo: Getty

Juan Jose Cobo stormed to victory in the 19th stage of the Vuelta a Espana ahead of Alejandro Valverde, who remains on course to triumph overall with just two stages left.

Cobo (Fuji-Servetto) crossed the line in four hours, 37 minutes, 35 seconds to finish two seconds clear of fellow Spaniard Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) following the 174-kilometre trek from Avila to La Granja which included three top-category mountain climbs.

Valverde saw his overall lead stretch to one minute, 26 seconds, with compatriot Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) moving up to second, but is not taking anything for granted just yet.

He told www.velonews.com: "If there's not any sort of problem, I should be able to do it tomorrow, but you cannot say you're a winner until we're in Madrid."

"It was super-nervous today. There was a lot of tension in the race, but the team has been a '10'. They've protected me this entire tour."

Dutchman Robert Gesink (Rabobank) slipped four places in the general classification to sixth, five-and-a-half minutes behind Valverde.

Italian Ivan Basso lies third overall, one minute 45 seconds adrift of the leader with Australian Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) fourth a further 14 seconds back.

Cobo, who burst away from a group of seven riders just two kilometres from the end in rainy conditions just north of Madrid, moved up to 10th in the general classification courtesy of the win.

The event continues with Sunday's penultimate stage, a 26km time-trial in Toledo, before concluding in Madrid on Monday.