There was plenty of celebrating going in Cuenca, with Saunier Duval-Prodir toasting David Millar’s remarkable comeback victory in Saturday’s time trial and Caisse d’Epargne quietly putting the champagne on ice after Alejandro Valverde widened his overall lead with just a week to go in the Vuelta a España.

Millar exorcized two years worth of doping demons with each pedal stroke Saturday to win for the first time since his the end of racing ban while Valverde tightened his grip on the gold jersey on a day when many expected the Spaniard to cede terrain.

Millar beat CSC’s Fabian Cancellara by a fraction of a second, but that was all he needed to earn a stage win on what he says is his tour of redemption, after his suspension for admitting to using EPO two years ago.

By a hair: Cancellara was but a fraction of a second back.

Photo: Graham Watson

“This is incredible what happened today. I was kicked out of cycling, but later I worked very hard for one year to be able to win again. This is like a renaissance, beginning from zero,” Millar said. “I want to send a message that you can return to the highest level without taking anything, not even recovery agents, you can win clean.”

Millar ripped the hilly Cuenca course and matched an early time set by Cancellara. Race judges later said the Scot beat the Swiss rider by fractions of a second.

For Millar - whose winning time was 40mins 54secs - it represents his first major victory since he returned from a two-year doping ban just prior to the Tour de France this year. The Saunier Duval rider, a specialist in the race against the clock event but who is still trying to find his feet after his recent return, did just enough in the closing stages to pip Cancellara. “It’s been impressive to win this stage with Millar after all he’s gone through. It’s a payback for him, he’s a great person and he has a lot of merit. He came back from delicate moments and he worked hard to demonstrate his great level as a cyclist,” said Saunier Duval’s sport director Josean Fernández Matxin. “He was ruined, drinking and lost everything. Now we celebrate this happy ending of this story.”

Valverde held his own and then some

Photo: Graham Watson

With Millar hogging the spotlight, the overall favorites locked horns on the tricky time trial course. With the Cat. 3 Alto de Castilla and its technical descent to spice things up, the course was well-suited for the strongest riders to step forward.

Valverde revealed improved ability in the race against the clock - a discipline not regarded as the Spaniard's specialty - and extended his lead over second-placed Andrey Kashechkin (Astana) and third-placed Carlos Sastre (CSC).

The duel between the “Green Bullet” and the Kazakh double punch of Alexandre Vinokourov and Kashechkin clearly fell to Valverde’s favor.

“I am very content. It was an important test and it went better than expected,” Valverde said. “This result boosts my morale and now I am counting down the days with more hope.”

Vinokourov – who expressed his intention of taking back one minute on Valverde - finished third at just five seconds behind the big Scot, but Valverde was fourth at 13.

Kashechkin could only muster fifth at 26, meaning he lost 13secs to Valverde on the day. Sastre is still in third place overall but saw his chances of overhauling Valverde slashed after he finished eighth over half a minute behind his compatriot.

Vinokourov's efforts meanwhile meant he moved up one place to fourth overall after Spaniard Jose Angel Gomez Marchante finished out of the top ten. Marchante, known primarily as a climber, is now fifth overall at 2:06 behind Valverde. “The rivals tried to take time on me, which is logical, but I never lost confidence and I risked a lot on the final downhill when I had problems with the chain,” Valverde said. “Now I am more favored, but there’s still some racing. I’ve crossed an important hurdle, but we’ll see what happens in the mountains.”

Stijn Devolder led the Discovery Channel crew with a solid sixth at 44 seconds back with Tom Danielson 12th at 1:14 back. Former leader Janez Brakjovic posted at time 1:49 slower good enough for 18th. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak) was 28th at 2:19 slower while Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) was 31st at 2:27 slower.

Danielson nudged up to 12th at 7:29 back while Hesjedal is 17th at 9:30 back overall.

Danielson improved his GC position by a bit

Photo: Graham Watson

Some 32 riders from Euskaltel, Lampre, Caisse d’Epargne and Francaise des Jeux were screened by the UCI “vampires” ahead of the start. All were ruled “apt” to continue.

The 61st Vuelta continues Sunday with the rolling 182km 15th stage from Motilla del Palancar to Factoria Ford (Almussafes) near the Mediterranean Coast. Monday is the Vuelta’s second rest day.

Stage 14
1. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval, 40:54
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, s.t.
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 0:05
4. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 0:13
5. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:26
6. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel, at 0:44
7. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun), Credit Agricole, at 0:45
8. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, at 0:46
9. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, at 0:54
10. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:03.Overall
1. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 54:23:28
2. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana
3. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, at 1:25
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 1:38
5. J. Angel Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 2:06
6. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Discovery Channel, at 3:49
7. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 4:00
8. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 4:31
9. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 5:03
10. Ruggero Marzoli (I), Lampre, at 7:02