France's Laurent Jalabert won the 20th stage of the Tour of Spain in Avila yesterday - but his Once team-mate Alex Zulle, of Switzerland, retained the overall lead. Jalabert claimed his second stage victory in this year's event in a sprint finish ahead of Swiss rider Laurent Dufaux and Russian Sergei Ivanov.

The Frenchman won the sixth stage two weeks ago from Malaga to Granada, chased home then too by Dufaux.

The break of Spain's Jose Maria Jimenez, who wanted to win in his home town for his second successive stage victory, and Dufaux was swallowed up by the main pack in the last few metres.

With just two days to go to the Madrid finish, Zulle is virtually assured of the title with a lead of more than two minutes over Fernando Escartin.

Zulle, also favourite for today's time trial in the Madrid suburb Alcobendas, said after yesterday's stage: "Things are going well for me. I only have to suffer for one more day and I've surely won the Tour."