Cycling:Nicolas Roche's hopes of a podium finish at the Vuelta a España suffered what could be irreparable damage on today's 17th stage, a 46km individual time trial in Peñafiel.
Starting the day in fifth place and intent on putting pressure on those ahead of him, Roche was unable to keep pace and slipped down the pecking order to eighth in the overall standings.
With time running out to make up serious ground before the Vuelta finishes on Sunday, Roche must now pin his hopes on Saturday’s final mountain stage to Bola del Mundo.
Italian Vincenzo Nibali regained the overall lead in the Tour of Spain after while Slovak Peter Velits claimed the stage win. Nibali leads from Ezequiel Mosquera, with Peter Velits moving into third.
Overnight leader Joaquim Rodriguez turned in a poor performance and dropped to fifth on the overall classification.
Stage results
1. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia) 52 mins 43s
2. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +12"
3. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / Saxo Bank) +37"
4. Gustav Larsson (Sweden / Saxo Bank) +50"
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +1:03"
6. Leif Hoste (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto) +1:07"
7. David Zabriskie (U.S. / Garmin) +1:10"
8. Carlos Barredo (Spain / Quick-Step) +1:14"
9. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto) +1:24"
10. David Millar (Britain / Garmin) +1:27"
Overall standings
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) 71 hrs 19 mins 49 secs
2. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spain / Xacobeo) +39"
3. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Columbia) +2:00"
4. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +3:44"
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +3:45"
5. Xavier Tondo (Spain / Cervelo)
7. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +3:55"
8.
Nicolas Roche(Ireland / AG2R) +4:03"
9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo) +4:13"
10. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +5:43"