It’s all go at the 56th editon of the Tour of Spain as the riders and viewers catch their breath on the first rest day of the race.

Joseba Beloki of the ONCE team leads from fellow Spaniard Oscar Seville, while Brit David Millar lies eighth overall. The young Scot will be hoping for a good ride once the race reaches the Pyrenees next week.

So far the racing had been fast and furious with the leader’s jersey changing hands on countless occasions. Millar won the opening 12 kilometre prologue in suberb fashion, beating Columbian Santiago Botero by under a second. The Cofidis rider held his lead while Erik Zabel raced to number one in the World by winning two stages.

Botero and Seville briefy held the lead, until stage eight, where Jose Maria Jiminez destroyed the field in a five kilometre attack. Only Beloki finshed close, at 24 seconds down, to gain the leaders jersey.

With no Armstrong or Ullrich on the leaderboard the racing has been far more open than at the Tour de France and with four mountain top finishes to go the racing can only get better.