CORDOBA, Spain (AP) — Dutch rider Lars Boom won the 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Monday, finishing 25 minutes ahead of the pack, and Alejandro Valverde of Spain retained the overall lead.
Boom, who competes for the Rabobank team and won this year's Tour of Belgium, completed the 168-kilometer (104-mile) trek from Jaen to Cordoba in southern Spain in 4 hours, 12 minutes, 56 seconds.
He was first among a group of 13 riders that broke away at about halfway.
Boom finished 1:36 ahead of Spanish rider David Herrero of the Xacobeo team. Herrero briefly went off the road late in the race but was able to recover.
Valverde, who finished in the pack in 24th place, leads Robert Gesink of the Netherlands by 31 seconds with six stages to go.
Tuesday's 16th stage covers 170 kilometers (102 miles) from Cordoba to Puertollano. The race ends Sunday in Madrid.
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