URDAX, Spain (AP) Valerio Conti of Italy successfully broke away Friday to win the Spanish Vuelta's long 13th stage, while Nairo Quintana kept his overall lead.
Conti, riding for Lampre-Merida, separated from a small group of escapees and rode alone to finish the hilly 213.4-kilometer (132.6-mile) route in 5 hours, 29 minutes, 4 seconds.
The stage started in Bilbao and ended in Urdax after a brief dip into France.
Quintana has a 54-second advantage over Chris Froome heading into Saturday's daunting 196-kilometer (121.7-mile) course that traverses the French Pyrenees.
Race organizers say the 14th stage, which includes three category-one ascents before finishing at the special-category Aubisque summit, is ''one of the most demanding stages in the history of the Vuelta.''
