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Konecny sprints to stage win

Thomas Konecny was too fast for the pack

Thomas Konecny outsprinted the pack to take the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain on Tuesday as Oscar Sevilla retained the overall lead.

Domo rider Konecny came through to win the 153.3-km stage between Alcoy and Murcia after early leader Carlos Sastre crashed.

With just one major climb on the stage, Sevilla was able to finish comfortably in the pack and retain his 25-second lead over Angel Casero.

Sastre had looked on his way to a stage win when he held a 16-second lead over the peloton, but a lapse in concentration saw him lose control and slip down an embankment.

He rejoined the race, but by that time Spain's Jose Luis Rubiera and Frenchman Richard Virenque had built a 12-second lead.

But they too failed to capitalise on their advantage and were caught by the peloton with three kilometres remaining.

A bunch sprint was then inevitable, and Konecny held off the challenge of Spaniards David Etxeberria and Angel Edo to take the stage.

Leading results from 16th stage:
(All same time)
1. Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo
3 hours 11 minutes 33 seconds
2. David Etxeberria (Spa) Euskatel
3. Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza
4. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
5. Igor Pugacci (Mol) Saeco
6. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme
7. Guiliano Figueras (Ita) Caramiche
8. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme
9. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina
10. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast

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Overall standings:
1. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme
55 hours, 4 minutes, 58 seconds
2. Angel Casero (Spa) Festina @ 25 secs
3. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) ibanesto.com @ 2:02
4. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal @ 2:20
5. David Plaza (Spa) Festina @ 3:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) US Postal @ 3:55
7. Jose Maria Rubiera (Spa) US Postal @ 4:59
8. Aitor Osa (Spa) ibanesto.com @ 5:47
9. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskatel @ 6:59
10. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast @ 7:18

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