Kelme's Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde celebrates winning the punishing 172km 15th stage

Petacchi wins again, claiming his fourth victory in this year's Tour of Spain on the Albacete to Valdepenas stage 14

Home favourite Isidro Nozal wins stage 13, a time-trial in Albacete, to increase his overall advantage

Alessandro Petacchi gains revenge on Erik Zabel on stage 12, outsprinting the German to win the 168km stage

ONCE's Isidro Nozal of Spain finishes safely in the main pack, protecting his overall lead of just under two minutes

Erik Zabel (right) narrowly beats Quick Step's Tom Boonen in a sprint finish on stage 11 of the Tour of Spain

The leading pack ride through a tunnel on their way to Sabadell, the destination for the 10th stage of the Vuelta

Germany's Erik Zabel outsprints Italian Alessandro Petacchi to win the 10th stage but Isidro Nozal stays at the top of the overall standings

Alejandro Valverde crosses the line in front on stage nine between Vielha and Port d'Envalira in Andorra

Valverde claims victory for the Kleme team but his fellow Spaniard Isidro Nozal retains the yellow jersey

Catalan Joaquin Rodriguez wins stage eight on home soil at Pla de Beret after the 166.2km trek from France

Rodriguez's ONCE team-mate Isidro Nozal retains the overall lead, one minute 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival