Carlos Sastre is having attention for a bleeding nose as the race starts...

Sastre is not too well placed as the real racing begins...

It's been non-stop attacking from the first kilometre - but it takes one hour before an escape gets away on the slopes of the Puerto Navacerrada...

A group of 20 riders is forming on the steep climb - led by Gustov...

The pressure is on Astana now - Sergio Paulinho leads the chase...

David Arroyo leads the escape with three other Caisse d'Epargne riders...

Chechu Rubiera is working hard for Astana now...the peloton no longer exists..!

Leipheimer and Contador are suddenly accelerating near the summit, but Sastre and Valverde follow easily...

Contador accelerates even more, but the others still manage to follow him...

Astana sit up after the descent, allowing workers like Bazayev to get back and help chase the escape down...

Now Sastre attacks on the following climb, the Puerta Navafria, but Contador and Leipheimer easily follow...

Ezequiel Mosquera then attacks, but with the same result...

Leipheimer cools everyone down by setting a pace no-one can beat..!

Julien Loubet has attacked on the descent after a general regrouping amongst the favourites...

15 Loubet has been joined by Kiryienka, with Arroyo riding shotgun for Caisse and refusing to work...

Caisse d'Epargne confuse everyone by chasing their own man down - or do they want Valverde to win the stage?

The peloton passes the famous aqueduct in Segovia, over one minute down on the escape with ten-kilometres to go...

David Arroyo wins stage nineteen easily from a frustrated Kiryienka…