Ireland’s Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin both preserved their high overall placings in the Vuelta a Espana yesterday and look well poised to strike for the race lead today.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, riding for Team Saxo-Tinkoff, lies third overall after adding a ninth-placed finish to his stage win on Sunday in yesterday’s third stage of the Vuelta a Espana between Vigo and Mirador de Lobeira.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche took the biggest win of his career yesterday when he won a thrilling stage two of the Vuelta A Espana from Pontevedra to Alto Do Monte Da Groba.

Mikel Nieve claimed the 16th stage of the Vuelta a Espana today while his fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez regained the overall lead.

Manager of the ONCE-Eroski team Manolo Saiz has been expelled from the Tour of Spain for cursing at a television reporters on live TV.