Valverde suffers but strengthens lead, Cunego wins

Damiano Cunego, Vuelta a Espana 2009, stage 14

Alejandro Valverde came close to cracking on the 2009 Vuelta a Espana's third summit finish on stage 14, but finally recovered to strengthen his overall lead.

The Caisse d'Epargne leader said afterwards that he is now 70 percent sure of taking his first ever major Tour, and it's hard to disagree. Despite nearly cracking on the brutally steep final climb of La Pandera, the Spaniard fought back strongly after almost all his top rivals attacked him.

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