Piedra wins stage, Rodriguez leads

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Published Sep 2, 2012

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Lagos de Covadonga, Spain – Spaniard Antonio Piedra won Sunday's 15th stage of the Tour of Spain, a 186.5km ride from La Robla to Lagos de Covadonga, while compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez kept the overall race lead.

The Caja Rural rider soared ahead of a breakaway group of riders at the start of the final climb of the race to cross the finish line just ahead of Spain's Ruben Perez Moreno of Euskaltel.

France's Lloyd Mondory finished the stage in third place.

Rodriguez held on to the overall leader's red jersey as well as his 22-second lead over Spain's Alberto Contador, who is in second place.

Another Spaniard, Alejandro Valverde, is in third place in the overall standings, one minute and 41 seconds behind the leader.

Monday sees the peloton head into a third straight mountain stage Ä a 183.5-kilometre ride from Gijon to Valgrande-Pajares that features inclinations of 24 percent during the final three kilometres. Tuesday is a rest day.

The 21-stage Tour of Spain Ä one of cycling's three 'major tours' along with the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia Ä

finishes on September 9 in Madrid. – Sapa-AFP

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