September 14, 2004 – USPS’ David Zabriskie took an all-day solo win at the Vuelta today. The American broke away after a few kilometres and managed to hold off the charging field. His teammate Floyd Landis still leads.

Stage 8:
1. David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 4.05.31 (40.51 km/h)
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.11
3. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Cofidis, le credit par Telephone
4. Marco Zanotti (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
5. Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team
6. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
7. Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria
8. Erki Pütsep (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance
9. Aitor Perez (Spa) Cafes Baque
10. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor

Overall:

1. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 40.30.33
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 0.09
3. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto 0.29
4. Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros 0.32
5. Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 0.47
6. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 0.59
7. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 1.35
8. Denis Menchov (Rus) Illes Balears-Banesto 2.42
9. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 2.50
10. Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria

September 17, 2003 – Erik Zabel (Telekom) proved Monday's win was no fluke by taking today's eleventh stage over Belgian wunderkind Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon). The 162k stage was completed just over three hours – with an average speed just below 50km/h. Canada's Michael Barry (USPS) described today's stage as “fast and hard – again!”.

Barry's American teammate George Hincapie mixed it up in the final dash, taking 8th. The G.C. is still dominated by the Spanish powerhouse ONCE-Eroski, with Isidro Nozal wearing the Golden Jersey over his compatriot Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano. USPS holds third overall in Manuel Beltran and fifth with Roberto Heras. The Tour has passed the halfway point and will once again hit the mountains, where the real battle will resume to see who is the King of Spain…

Stage 11: Utiel – Cuenca, 162k
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom 3.14.59
(49.85 km/h)
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon
3. Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
5. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com
6. Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
7. Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Alessio
8. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor
9. José Jufre (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
10. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank

Overall
1. Isidro Nozal (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 37.12.40
2. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 1.48
3. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor 3.03
4. Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 3.05
5. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor 3.28
6. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com 3.40
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 3.57
8. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 4.00
9. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 4.04
10. Unai Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com 4.14