One day from glory

Heras closes on Spanish title as Furlan wins 20th stage

SAN MARTIN DE LA VEGA, Spain (AP) -- Italian Angelo Furlan edged ahead of a giant pack in the home stretch Saturday to win the penultimate stage of the Tour of Spain.

Furlan completed the 141-kilometer (85-mile) race from Avila to San Martin de la Vega, a suburb of Madrid, in 3 hours and 8 seconds.

Roberto Heras's 1 minute and 8 second overall lead ahead of fellow Spaniard Aitor Gonzalez, after 20 stages, was unchanged by Saturday's result.

Spain's Oscar Sevilla remained third overall, trailing Herras by 1:45, and Joseba Beloki was fourth, 2:09 behind.

Heras, who won the Vuelta two years ago, placed 59th in Saturday's stage along with other top riders who finished back in the pack, taking it easy ahead of Sunday's final stage.

Saturday's stage win was Furlan's second in the tour, but it failed to alter his 121st place overall. He also won the 17th leg from Benavente to Salamanca.

Furlan, who rides for the Allesio team, came into the final stretch Saturday leading a pack that included all 132 riders finishing the tour's third-shortest stage.

The winner crossed the line at the new Warner Bros. theme park a mere bike-length ahead of fellow Italian Alessandro Petacchi, and third place finisher Erik Zabel of Germany.

Sunday's final stage is a 41.2-kilometer (25.8-mile) time trial from San Martin de la Vega to Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home of Real Madrid soccer team.

Heras was confident he would win if he goes out quick Sunday so as not to "lose too much in the first 10 or 15 kilometers." The other main challenge is keeping cool.

"You have to be calm," he said. "Being nervous only gets you mixed up."

 

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