First win for Blanco

Joseba Beloki holds on to yellow jersey

Spain's Santiago Blanco secured his first victory in a major tour by claiming the 168.4-km tenth stage of the Tour of Spain.

The race, from Sabadell to La Molina, proved highly successful for a number of riders from the host country.

Joseba Beloki retained the overall lead for the third successive day as Oscar Sevilla and Angel Casero held on to second and third place respectively.

Blanco, 27, had been part of an early six-man break just 33kms from the start but eventually came home almost three minutes ahead of second-placed Denmark's Klaus Moeller.

Blanco's win ensured a clean sweep of victories for the iBanesto.com team in the three mountain stages of this year's race.

Juan Miguel Mercado was victorious in the classic climb to the Lagos de Covadonga and Jose Maria Jimenez took the eighth stage to Alto Cruz de la Demanda.

Overall leaders Beloki, Sevilla, Casero and last year's race winner Roberto Heras all finished in a group of 18 riders four minutes 23 seconds behind Tuesday's winner.

Wednesday's tough 154.2-km haul features six tough ascents before the finish high in the Andorran Pyrenees at Pal.

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Tour of Spain Stage ten results:

1. Santiago Blanco, Spain, ibanesto.com, 4 hours, 20 minutes, 23seconds.
2. Claus Moller, Denmark, Maia-Milaneza, 2:57 behind.
3. Antonio Tauler, Spain, Kelme, 4:09 behind.
4. Jose Maria Jimenez, Spain, ibanesto.com, 4:19 behind.
5. Unai Osa, Spain, ibanesto.com, 4:23 behind.
6. Fernando Escartin, Spain, Team Coast, s.t.
7. Oscar Sevilla, Spain, Kelme, s.t.
8. Aitor Osa, Spain, ibanesto.com, s.t.
9. Levi Leipheimer, United States, US Postal, s.t.
10. Roberto Heras, Spain, US Postal, s.t.

Overall standings:

1. Joseba Beloki, Spain, ONCE, 28 hours, 21 minutes, 9 seconds.
2. Oscar Sevilla, Spain, Kelme, 14 seconds behind.
3. Angel Casero, Spain, Festina, 51 secs
4. Santiago Botero, Colombia, Kelme, 1:28
5. Levi Leipheimer, United States, US Postal, 1:54
6. Juan Miguel Mercado, Spain, Banesto, 2:00
7. Roberto Heras, Spain, US Postal, 2:47
8. Iban Mayo, Spain, Euskatel, 3:14
9. David Millar, Britain, Cofidis, 3:58 .
10. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano, Spain, ONCE, 4:01