Cycling: Armstrong inspires Martinez to stage win

BURGOS, Spain - Spaniard Egoi Martinez put his victory on today's 11th stage of the Tour of Spain down to the example set by retired seven times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

Part of a three-man breakaway, Martinez, who rides for Armstrong's old Discovery Channel team, took off 13 km from the finish in Burgos for his first win in three years.

Spaniard Inigo Landaluze was second, 55 seconds behind, and Ukrainian Volodymir Gustov third. Alejandro Valverde of Spain kept the overall lead.

Martinez attributed his success in part to the ambition shown by American Armstrong, who is still a part owner of the team.

"What remains in the team after he retired (in July 2005) is an incredible level of ambition," Martinez said.

"In my case, I've changed from being a rider who just got into breaks, to one who can get into breaks and win."

"Today I took off alone on the second big climb of the day and then managed to stay away."

"I was a bit worried when Landaluze and Gustov caught me later, but my team manager (Belgian Johan Bruyneel) told me to say calm and attack close to the finish."

It was Martinez's first victory since winning the Tour de L'Avenir in 2003.

"Our team has now won stages in all three major Tours this year and led all three races as well, so we can be satisfied," he added.

After finishing safely in the main peloton on a rainsoaked day, Valverde led the overall standings by 27 seconds from Kazakhstan's Andrey Kashechkin. Spaniard Carlos Sastre was 44 seconds behind.

"It was an uneventful day but I stayed at the front of the bunch just in case there were crashes." Valverde said afterwards.

Last year's Vuelta champion Denis Menchov of Russia did not start the stage because of stomach problems and another four riders abandoned during the race.

The Tour of Spain ends on September 17 in Madrid.

- REUTERS