Valverde keeps lead in Tour of Catalonia

VIELHA, SPAIN » Defending champion Alejandro Valverde maintained his overall lead in the Tour of Catalonia by staying near the front in a stage won by Jarlinson Pantano of Colombia on Friday.

Pantano outsprinted Vegard Stake Laengen of Norway to take the 212-kilometer (131-mile) stage from Llivia to Vielha.

Valverde finished eighth, staying 16 seconds ahead of Egan Bernal in the overall standings going into the final two stages.

Valverde’s Movistar teammate Nairo Quintana was third overall, 26 seconds behind.

Valverde is a two-time champion at the Tour of Catalonia.

Saturday’s second-to-last stage will take riders 194 kilometers (120 miles) from Vielha to Torrefarrera.

The seven-stage race ends Sunday in Barcelona.