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Granada, Spain - Thomas Danielson of the United States won the 17th stage of the Vuelta on Wednesday and Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan became the overall race leader.
The Astana rider finished in the same time as Danielson and took a 9-second advantage over former leader Alejandro Valverde with four stages left.
Danielson, a 28-year-old Discovery Channel rider, finished Wednesday's 167km stage from Adra to Granada in 4 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds. Samuel Sanchez of Spain was third, 1 minute, 10 seconds off the lead, and Andrey Kashechkin of Kazakhstan was fourth, another 29 seconds back.
Racers started from sea level at the port city of Adra and within 36 kilometers had climbed the category one 1,300m Alto de Albandon peak. The riders then tackled mountain roads around Las Alpujarras before arriving at the category one climb to the 1,510m Alto de Monachil peak.
A 20km downhill stretch led to the finish in the ancient Moorish capital, Granada.
Alessandro Petacchi, who retired from the race after the 15th stage, has broken the fifth metacarpal of his right hand, said doctor Mario Spinelli of Livorno hospital in Italy. The Team Milram rider will be re-examined Monday, but it looks like Petacchi will not require surgery, Spinelli said.
The injury was not sustained while racing, his team said.
Thursday's stage covers 153,1km from Granada to Sierra de la Pandera.
The race ends Sunday in Madrid. - Sapa-AP
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