Millar grabs second win

Millar takes the plaudits - and kisses - after his win

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Britain's David Millar has claimed his second stage victory in this year's Tour of Spain.

The Scot triumphed after an enthralling duel with Colombia's Santiago Botero in the Vuelta's tough 180.6km sixth stage.

Spain's Oscar Sevilla, who finished in the chasing pack some 58 seconds behind the leading pair, retained the leader's jersey.

Compatriots Juan Miguel Mercado and Joseba Beloki held on to second and third places in the overall standings.

Botero moved into fifth spot ahead of last year's winner Roberto Heras.

He said: "I gave it my best shot but I knew in the last kilometre that Millar was likely to be stronger. I just didn't have anything left at the end."

Hot pursuit

Millar, winner of the opening time trial in Salamanca, attacked on the last of four ascents in a rollercoaster run through the mountains from Cangas de Onis to Torrelavega.

Botero, who came second in Salamanca, was the only rider able to respond to the break.

He set off in hot pursuit some 15 kilometres from the finish line.

The two quickly opened up a gap of over a minute on the peloton and shared the burden at the front until the last kilometre.

Millar, however, made the decisive move after a series of high-speed curves leading into the final 800-metre stretch.

Rising out of the saddle and maintaining a powerful rhythm, he managed to keep the combative Botero at bay by a bike's length until the finish.

It was his first victory in a major Tour outside of a time trial.

Cofidis team director Francis Van Londersele said: "He's in great shape both mentally and physically, and you can expect to see a lot more from him."

The race continues with a demanding 44.2 km time trial around Torrelavega on Friday.

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Tour of Spain Stage Six results:
1. David Millar (GB) Cofidis, 4 hours 2 minutes 36 seconds
2. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme, same time
3. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom, 58 seconds behind
4. Oscar Friere (Spa) Mapei
5. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Cantina Tollo
6. Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza
7. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
8. Angel Vicioso (Spa) Kelme
9. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Team Coast
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria
11. Jon Odriozola (Spa) iBanesto.com
12. Tomas Konecny (Cz Rep) Domo-Farm Frites
13. Cristian Moreni (Ita) Mercatone Uno
14. Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Lampre-Daikin
15. Eleuterio Anguita (Spa) Jazztel
16. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank
17. David Etxebarria (Spa) Euskadi-Euskaltel
18. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio
19. Dave Bruylandts (Bel Dono-Farm Frites
20. Dmitri Fofonov (Kaz) Cofidis, all same time

Overall standings:
1. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme 19 hours 25 minutes 43 seconds
2. Juan Manuel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com, 15 seconds behind
3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE, 35
4. David Plaza (Spa) Festina, 59
5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme, 1:06
6. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal, 1:06
7. Angel Casero (Spa) Festina, 1:09
8. Jose Luis Rubiera (Spa) US Postal, 1:12
9. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) Euskadi-Euskaltel, same time
10. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskadi-Euskaltel, 1:37
11. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast, same time
12. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Mapei, 1:43
13. Aitor Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com, 1:44
14. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) iBanesto.com, 1:48
15. Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei, 2:07
16. Carlos Sastre (Spa) ONCE, 2:17
17. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank, 2:23
18. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) ONCE, 2:28
19. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Cantina Tollo, 2:32
20. Jose Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme, 2:38