Flat tyre fails to stop Heras

Mariano Piccoli won his second stage after a sprint finish

Italy's Mariano Piccoli sprinted to his second stage victory of the Tour of Spain on Friday but home rider Roberto Heras retained the overall leader's gold jersey despite a flat tyre.

Heras overcame a brief scare as he punctured 25 km from the finish of the 130 km 19th stage from Salamanca to Avila, but his ever vigilant Kelme team quickly helped him rejoin the peloton to ensure his gold jersey was not in danger.

Piccoli, who also won the 13th stage, beat Lithuanian Saulius Sarkausas and Frenchman Laurent Brochard in a ferocious final sprint that saw the Frenchman throw up his arms in submission yards from the line.

Several riders tried their luck at the front on the closing two circuits of the picturesque walled city of Avila.

None survived but with three kilometres to go a group of 25 managed to open a small gap.

France's Patrice Halgand made a brave bid for victory, but the tough uphill stretch towards the finish took its toll and he faded with 500 metres to go.

Piccoli held fire until the last 25 metres and when he burst clear his rivals could not respond.

He finished two bike lengths ahead of Lithuania's Saulius Sarkauskas of LA-Pecol.

Overall Standings

1 R Heras (Spa/KEL) 66hrs 22min 7sec,
2 A Casero (Spa/FES) at 3min 41sec
3 P Tonkov(Rus/MAP) at 4:50
4 R Rumsas (Lith/FAS) at 6:37
5 S Gonzalez (Spa/ONC) at 7:03
6 M Beltran (Spa/MAP) at 9:09
7 C Sastre (Spa/ONCE) at 9:23
8 F Escartin (Spa/KEL) at 9:27
9 R Laiseka (Spa/EUS) at 10:09
10 M Gentili (Ita/CTA) at 10:36