Casero cuts Sevilla's lead

Sevilla's lead is now just 22 seconds

Angel Casero closed the gap on overall leader Oscar Sevilla with an aggressive ride in the 15th stage of the Tour of Spain.

The Valencian rider cut his rival's lead to just 22 seconds after starting the day 41 seconds behind.

Denmark's Klaus Moeller won the gruelling 207.2km stage between Valencia and Alto de Aitana after attacking half way up the final leg-burning 20-km special category ascent.

Italy's Gilberto Simoni finished in second and Spain's Carlos Sastre took third.

Last year's race winner Roberto Heras also gained valuable ground, moving up two places to fourth in the overall standings.

He is now just 18 seconds behind third-placed rider Juan Miguel Mercado, who is two minutes two seconds behind Sevilla.

The riders get a well-earned rest day on Monday ahead of the final six stages of the race which finishes with a 38-km time trial around Madrid next Sunday.

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Stage 15 results:
1. Klaus Moller, Denmark, Milaneza, 5 hours 44 minutes 18 seconds
2. Gilberto Simoni, Italy, Lampre, 15 seconds behind
3. Carlos Sastre, Spain, ONCE, same time
4. Roberto Heras, Spain, US Postal, same time
5. Jose Maria Rubiera, Spain, US Postal, 22 seconds behind
6. Angel Casero, Spain, Festina, :34
7. Juan Miguel Mercado, Spain, ibanesto.com, :50
8. Oscar Sevilla, Spain, Kelme, same time
9. Santiago Blanco, Spain, ibanesto.com, :57
. 10. Aitor Osa, Spain, ibanesto.com, 1:04

Overall standings:
1. Oscar Sevilla, Spain, Kelme, 47 hours, 47 minutes, 33 seconds
2. Angel Casero, Spain, Festina, 22 seconds behind
3. Juan Miguel Mercado, Spain, ibanesto.com, 2:02 behind
4. Roberto Heras, Spain, US Postal, 2:20
5. David Plaza, Spain, Festina, 3:31
6. Levi Leipheimer, United States, US Postal, 3:55
7. Jose Maria Rubiera, Spain, US Postal, 4:59
8. Aitor Osa, Spain, ibanesto.com, 5:47
9. Iban Mayo, Spain, Euskatel, 6:59
10. Fernando Escartin, Spain, Team Coast, 7:18