Frenchman David Moncoutie of Cofidis won the eighth stage of the Tour of Spain on Sunday, a 151km ride from Andorra to Pla de Beret but it was US rider Levi Leipheimer of Astana who bagged the leader's golden jersey.
Home favourite Alberto Contador attacked hard and snatched a few seconds off his main rival Carlos Sastre as the event moved back out of Andorra into Spain.
Alejandro Valverde, who had complained of feeling off colour on Saturday, this time stuck close to Contador's wheel and then just pipped the latter for second place on the day.
Leipheimer now has a 20sec lead on Contador with Valverde 49sec adrift.
Moncoutie had been one of a five-strong group who escaped 38 km into the ride along with compatriots Christophe Kern and Sebastien Joly, Spaniard Juan Manuel Garate and Russian Nikita Eskov before making his successful bid for the stage honours 20 km out from the line.
Joly looked set to give him a run for his money coming off the first category Bonaigua climb but then fell back on the final ascent, the uncategorised Pla de Beret.
Copyright 2008 AFP Global Edition
