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WORLD SPORT

Pettachi wins after Heras crashes

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Petacchi's raw sprinting power took him clear of Zabel for another win

BURGOS, Spain -- Alessandro Petacchi won another stage of the Tour of Spain - but three-times winner Roberto Heras had to battle back after crashing 40km out and injuring himself.

Petacchi notched his fourth stage win in a bunch sprint, edging out German Erik Zabel and Italian Marco Zanotti.

Earlier, Heras badly cut his left knee in an accident. But he remounted to stay second overall without losing any time - despite needing 15 stitches.

Russian Denis Menchov continues to lead, 47 seconds ahead of Heras and 1:53 clear of Francisco Mancebo.

"The doctors gave him the stitches in the team bus and he's now getting treatment for the wound," said a spokesman for his Liberty Seguros team.

The Spaniard is expected to start Friday's stage 13 but Dane Jakob Piil, also injured in the crash, had to quit the race.

Twice a winner in Burgos in previous Tours of Spain, Petacchi was also caught up in the Heras crash but with no serious consequences. He said: "We did ease the pace in the bunch until Heras returned."

Petacchi has now won 16 Tour of Spain stages in his career and 39 stages on all major Tours.

Heras, seeking a record-breaking fourth overall win, will be hoping to shrug off Thursday's injury.

"We saw he could finish with the bunch today, but tomorrow's tougher stage will be the real test," said Spanish team mate Joseba Beloki.

The Tour finishes on September 18 in Madrid.

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