Vuelta a Espana: Tom Dumoulin doubles lead to six seconds

Dumoulin has one competitive stage left to resist Italian Fabio Aru's attacks

Dutchman Tom Dumoulin edged closer to victory in the Vuelta a Espana after doubling his overall lead to six seconds after stage 19.

The Giant-Alpecin rider finished in 25th, 16 minutes and 18 seconds behind French stage winner Alexis Gougeard.

But crucially Dumoulin finished three seconds clear of Italian Fabio Aru, his closest rival for the red jersey.

It is 35 years since a Dutch cyclist won a Grand Tour, when Joop Zoetemelk won the 1980 Tour de France.

Dumoulin, a surprise contender for the general classification, took the lead with a scorching time trial on Wednesday and now has just one more competitive stage to negotiate, Saturday's mountainous 176km slog between San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Cercedilla.

Sunday's final stage to Madrid is largely ceremonial and likely to be settled by the sprinters.

"I attacked to try to win a few more seconds," said the 24-year-old from Maastricht, who along with Aru was involved in a minor crash earlier in the stage.

"I am feeling very good. I was under stress because everyone wanted to attack me but I dealt with it well.

"Tomorrow will be an exciting day when a lot of things could happen. My strategy will be to follow Aru and I will have to see with the team directors if there is any more we can do.

"But my team is better than many people think and I hope they can show that."

Gougeard, of the AG2R team, broke away to finish Friday's 186km ride from Medina del Campo into the walled city of Avila 40 seconds ahead of Portugal's Nelson Oliveira, with Belgian Maxime Monfort a further four seconds back in third.

Stage 19 result:

1. Alexis Gougeard (Fra/AG2R) 4 hrs 19 mins 20 secs

2. Nelson Oliveira (Por/Lampre) +40 secs

3. Maxime Monfort (Bel/Lotto) +44"

4. Andrey Amador (CR/Movistar) same time

5. Tiago Machado (Por/Katusha) same time

6. Amael Moinard (Fra/BMC Racing) same time

7. Fabio Duarte (Col/Colombia) +53"

8. David Arroyo (Spa/Caja Rural) +1:03"

9. Christian Knees (Ger/Team Sky) +1:17"

10. Francisco Ventoso (Spa/Movistar) same time

General classification after stage 19:

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Giant) 78hrs 20mins 51secs

2. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +6secs

3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) 1min 24secs

4. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) +2min 31secs

5. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +3mins 02secs

6. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 24secs

7. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica) +3min 39secs

8. Daniel Moreno (Spa/Katusha) +3mins 46secs

9. Mikel Nieve (Spa/Team Sky) +4mins 19secs

10. Louis Meintjes (SA/ Team MTN) +7mins 00secs