Cardenas claims Spanish stage win
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Cardenas: "I gave everything and I made it happen."
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SIERRA NEVADA, Spain -- Felix Cardenas scored the first win ever for the Labarca 2 team on stage 16 of the Tour of Spain.
The Colombian beat Juan Miguel Mercado in the final meters of the 162 kilometer ride from Jaen after chasing down the Spaniard's lone break on the long climb up the Pradollano.
Spain's Isidro Nozal of ONCE retained the overall lead but compatriot and main rival Robert Heras gained another minute on the gold jersey.
Nozal now leads teammate Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano by three minutes and three seconds with U.S. Postal rider Heras a further six seconds back.
Cardenas and IBanesto.com's Mercado had been part of a small group to break clear on the devastating 40 kilometer final ascent to Sierra Nevada, the highest point in this year's Vuelta. Oscar Sevilla of Kelme finished third, 18 seconds behind Cardenas.
"I've often been in the leading group but today I've finally won," said Cardenas, who finished in four hours, nine minutes and 33 seconds.
"I gave everything to catch Mercado in the last two kilometers and I made it happen."
Despite losing time to Heras and finishing 24th on the stage, Nozal was well-protected by his ONCE teammates and looks favorite to hold onto his lead until the finish in Madrid on Sunday.
"I'm going to continue fighting for the overall all the way to Madrid," said Heras.
"Today was a good haul considering the climb but three minutes is still a lot for me to pull back."
