September 22, 2004 – Kelme’s Jose Julia took yesterday’s stage of the Vuelta yesterday; Liberty’s Roberto Heras still leads by just five seconds.

Results:

1. José Julia (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 4.19.23 (43.97 km/h)
2. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.12
3. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco 0.35
4. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor
5. Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto
6. Iñaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
7. Ivan Parra (Col) Cafes Baque 1.20
8. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Saeco 1.25
9. Erki Pütsep (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.33
10. Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi

Overall:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 58.35.32
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 0.05
3. Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.45
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto 2.02
5. Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros 3.45
6. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 6.12
7. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 8.30
8. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 8.44
9. Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria 8.51
10. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 8.59