Valverde wins eighth stage, Rodriguez retains lead

Spain's Alejandro Valverde won the eighth stage of the Tour of Spain as Joaquim Rodriguez retained possession of the leader's red jersey on Saturday. Valverde, riding for the Movistar team, was adding this 174.7km ride from Lleida to Collada de la Gallina in Andorra to his win in the third stage in Alcaniz. The 32-year-old, back this season after a two year suspension for drugs, prevailed in a sprint from Rodriguez and Saxo-Bank's Alberto Contador after the concluding climb up the Col de la Gallina. Team Sky's Christopher Froome crossed the line in fourth, 15 seconds behind this trio. In the overall standings Rodriguez continues to hold command from Froome, who lost ground to be placed 33sec behind the leader, and Contador, 40sec adrift, with Valverde 50s off the pace. Contador, winner of the Vuelta in 2008, appeared best placed to win the stage when he opened up a gap of around 100m only for Rodriguez and eventual winner Valverde to dig deep and catch him to set up the final dash for the line. Valverde, who picked up a stage win in the Tour de France this year, said: "I launched the first attack on the final climb and I almost paid for that effort. "But in the closing stages I managed to impose in the sprint by following 'Purito' (Rodriguez). "I was fully aware that he knew this climb by heart." Despite Saturday's success he suggested overall victory was going to be tough. "Of all the favourites in the race I'm the one who has put in the most effort this season and then before that I'm the one who had the most period of inactivity (due to his suspension). "But I'll go as far as I can." The day was marked by a six-man breakaway comprising Amael Moinard (BMC) and Michael Buffaz (Cofidis), Australia's Cameron Meyer (Orica-Greenedge), Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural), Javier Ramirez Abeja (Andalucia) and Matijn Keizer. At the foot of the final climb Meyer made a bid for glory only to be reeled in by the chasing favourites. Sunday's ninth stage, the longest in the event at 196.3km long from Andorra to Barcelona, is tailormade for sprinters.