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Spaniard David Arroyo outpowered Vasili Kiryienka of Belarus to win the 19th stage of the Vuelta a Espana while compatriot Alberto Contador retained the overall lead.

The Caisse d'Epargne rider dropped Kiryienka 100 metres from the line on the uphill finish in Segovia to secure his team's second stage win in two days. Belgian Nick Nuyens was third.

With just two days left before the finish in Madrid, Contador has an overall lead of one minute and 17 seconds over American Levi Leipheimer with Carlos Sastre of Spain in third place, three minutes and 41 seconds behind.

Already the winner of the Tour de France and the Tour of Italy, overall victory in Spain would make Contador the first rider to take a hat-trick of major Tours since France's Bernard Hinault.

Arroyo and Kiryienka broke away from the main peloton with Frenchman Julien Loubet on the descent from the Navafria mountain pass.

After the two had dropped Loubet 10 km from the finish, Arroyo then charged away for the biggest win of his career.

"Kiryienka...did most of the work for us two to keep clear," said Arroyo, 28.

"But I told him I couldn't collaborate because my team were chasing behind, and so he did all the work."

The Spaniard fractured his elbow just before the Tour of Italy, where he had been due to lead the team, and he said Friday's win made up for that disappointment.

Astana's Contador will have to defend his advantage on Saturday in a mountain time trial from La Granja de San Ildefonso to the Alto de Navacerrada.

"One minute and 17 seconds should be enough," he said. "If my legs respond well, then I expect I'll do okay. I know the climb well, and I'm feeling good."

Reuters