Sport Forward: Millar wins Tour of Spain stage

Millar finished five seconds ahead of second-placed Sanchez

Britain's David Millar clinched victory in the penultimate stage of the Tour of Spain, a 27.8km time trial in Toledo.

The Scot, riding for Garmin-Slipstream, won in 35 minutes and 53 seconds, with Spain's Samuel Sanchez second and Cadel Evans of Australia in third.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde is on course to win the Vuelta after keeping his overall lead by finishing seventh.

Barring disaster, Valverde, 29, should seal his first major tour title when the race ends in Madrid on Sunday.

He leads compatriot Sanchez in the overall standings by 55 seconds.

Time trial specialist Millar, 32, now has three Tour of Spain stage wins to his name, as well as three Tour de France victories.

The final stage takes the riders on a 110km leg between Rivas Vaciamadrid and the Spanish capital.

General classification after Stage 20:

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 84hrs 10mins 32secs

2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 0.55

3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto at 1.32

4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas at 2.12

5 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia at 4.27

6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank at 6.40

7 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 9.08

8 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-NGC at 9.11

9 Philip Deignan (Irl) Cervelo TestTeam at 11.08

10 Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Fuji-Servetto at 11.27

Selected others:

80 David Millar (GB) Garmin-Slipstream 86hrs 13mins 40secs

97 Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo TestTeam at 2.22.36

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