Vinokourov finished in the same time as Danielson and took a nine-second advantage over former leader Alejandro Valverde of Spain with four stages left.

Danielson, a 28-year-old Discovery Channel rider, finished the 167-kilometre stage from Adra to Granada in four hours nine minutes and 55 seconds.

Vinokourov and Danielson overtook Valverde after he had broken away from the pack. By the 60-kilometre mark, the pair had established an unassailable lead.

``I wanted to prove to myself that I could fight in a race like this,'' Vinokourov said.

Samuel Sanchez of Spain was in third place, one minute and 10 seconds back. Racers started from sea level at the port city of Adra and finished in the ancient Moorish capital of Granada.

Team Milram's Alessandro Petacchi of Italy will be re-examined Monday after breaking the fifth metacarpal of his right hand, said doctor Mario Spinelli of Livorno Hospital in Italy. Petacchi, who is not expected to require surgery, retired from the race after the 15th stage. His team said the injury was not sustained while racing.

Thursday's stage covers 153.1 kilometres from Granada to Sierra de la Pandera. The race ends Sunday in Madrid.