Italy's Piepoli in major stage breakthrough
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-13 13:56

Italy's Leonardo Piepoli of the Saunier Duval team won the mountainous ninth stage of the Tour of Spain on Sunday, a 162-km run between Xativa and Alto de Aitana.

 Spain's Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros outfit was second and fellow countryman and team mate Isidro Nozal finished third.

 American rider Floyd Landis of the US Postal team retained the race leader's gold jersey.

 With 500 metres left Piepoli raced clear from Heras, twice a Tour of Spain winner, and came home alone.

 "I've never won a stage of a major Tour before and finally I've got it." Piepoli said.

 Nozal's hard work on the Aitana had shredded the leading group down to four before Heras attacked, taking Piepoli with him.

 Landis was dropped with six kms to go, but did enough to hang on to the overall lead.

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