DEIGNAN MAKING HISTORY IN SPAIN.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

PHILIP DEIGNAN created history when he claimed the 18th stage of the Tour of Spain on the streets of Avila yesterday.

Donegal native Deignan earned a brilliant reward for persisting with his career despite a number of injury and illness set-backs by becoming the first Irishman since Stephen Roche to win a stage on a major pro tour.

Despite suffering from glandular fever and with knee injuries over the past three years, the 26-year-old has bridged a 17 year gap since Roche last won a stage at the Tour de France.

He is now on course for a top-10 finish on the Tour of Spain as his win moved him up to ninth overall - and Deignan has joined a prestigious list of stage winners that includes Roche, Sean Kelly and Martin Earley.

"Someone mentioned it to me and it didn't really sink in, and it still hasn't," he said. "The stage to Avila is a classic in the Tour of Spain, they go there nearly every year, there is more importance to it - it's a special stage.

"They're all over the moon back home and they've helped me so much since I started at 15, so it's a really big day for them as well. We were starting to think maybe it wasn't going to happen. It's brilliant."

Riding for the Cervelo Test team, Deignan achieved his success on a cold and wet day by out-sprinting Roman Kreuziger to win by three seconds - finishing the 165 km stage from Talavera de la Reina to Avila in four hours, 19 minutes and 14 seconds.

"I can't believe it," said Deignan. "The guy Kreuziger won the Tour of Switzerland and the Tour of Normandy, he is really, really good - but I had some power left and it's a nice surprise."

And the Irish Olympian revealed that his Czech rival made him an offer he immediately refused on the last kilometre.

"I think he realised I had the legs on him and asked me a couple of questions. He said 'how much', and I just shook my head and said no there was no way I would consider giving away a stage, no matter how much he was willing to pay me," Deignan said.

"Tomorrow's going to be really hard, with three category one climbs hope I can get over this because I went really deep today."

CAPTION(S):

WIN Deignan lies 9th overall