How happy was Paolo Bettini after ripping across the finish ahead of Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux) victorious in Thursday's sixth stage at the Vuelta a España?

The two-time reigning world champion pumped both arms in the air, then his fist and before yelling something very Italian that might not be printable, even on the Web.

Ever since 2005, Bettini's used the Vuelta as a trampoline for success at the world championships. He's won at least one stage in each Vuelta since then and won back-to-back rainbow jerseys in 2006-07.

Just weeks away from a shot at a record third-straight world title, Bettini is hopeful the good luck will rub off one more time.

"The Vuelta has served me good fortune, so I am glad to win again at the Vuelta this year," Bettini said. "I will probably pull out of the Vuelta in Valladolid (stage 17) to have everything perfect for the worlds. This win gives me even more confident for Varese."

While Bettini was celebrating his third victory in 2008, Levi Leipheimer (Astana) let Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) win two intermediate sprints in the 150.1km march from Cuidad Real to Toledo to slip into the Vuelta's leader's jersey.

The hard work by Cofidis paid off as Chavanel held up his end of the bargain in the short but nervous stage. Leipheimer didn't challenge as Cofidis led three men across the line in both sprints to assure the time bonuses.

Chavanel won 12 seconds in bonuses and moved 10 seconds ahead of Leipheimer, who won Wednesday's time trial to take a grand tour leader's jersey for the first time of his career.

A tough finishing circuit around the historic jewel of Toledo opened gaps in the main pack as the weary peloton capped an exciting first week of racing in the Vuelta.

Vuelta 2008, stage 6: Iganatiev, Mayoz (ESP), and Diudia (Milram) were caught before the first sprint.

Photo: Graham Watson

When the remaining 167 riders split among several group for the blast into Toledo,

The Cricket showed no signs of losing his kick.

The survivors take a breather Friday in the first of two rest days ahead of the first of four summit finishes with a long, potentially explosive stage into Andorra on Saturday.

Chavanel takes gold

The chance to grab the jersey was too tempting for Chavanel, who clawed within two seconds of Leipheimer following the 42.5km time trial.

Vuelta 2008, stage 6: Cofidis set up Chavanel to take both intermediate sprints.

Photo: Graham Watson

The three-time French national time trial champion grabbed the bonuses and became the first French rider since Laurent Jalabert to don the Vuelta's leader's jersey.

"I came here hoping to win a stage, so taking the jersey is somewhat of a surprise," Chavanel said. "Winning a stage this year in the Tour was probably more important, but taking the jersey in a grand tour is also something significant."

Chavanel was in a similar situation in this year's Paris-Nice, when he held a small lead going into the decisive climbing stage at Mont Ventoux.

He wilted against an attack by Robert Gesink (Rabobank), the young Dutch climber who took the jersey that day back in March and is now making his grand tour debut here at the Vuelta.

Chavanel, who moves to Quick Step in 2009, says he'll do his best against the Spanish mountain goats in the summit finish Saturday in Andorra.

"I will honor the jersey on Saturday and ride to defend it, but the differences are small between the favorites, so it might be difficult to keep it," he said.

"My grandfather was from Barcelona, so to have the leader's jersey in the Spanish tour is an added honor for me."

Vuelta 2008, stage 6: Leipheimer enjoyed just one day in the lead.

Photo: Graham Watson

Chavanel became the fifth rider in six stages to wear the leader's jersey, a stat that underscores what everyone agrees has been a wild and exciting start to the 63rd edition of the Spanish tour.

Exciting first week

Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) is breathing a sigh of relief.

After brushing off a crash in stage 4 and staying within 40 seconds to Contador in Wednesday's time trial, Sastre says he's ready for the showdown in the Pyrénées.

He nudged into fifth overall at 1:37 back after the pack split in the final kilometers, after Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Jurgen Van Goolen (CSC-Saxo) both fell back.

"It hasn't been an easy start to the Vuelta," Sastre said. "I am relieved after the time trial. I didn't have a great start, but I later found my rhythm to limit my losses to my rivals. More than anything, the time trial was a positive test of my form. Now I head into the mountains with a more optimistic frame of mind."

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) sprinted to third in the stage after brushing off a pileup in the day's feed zone and stayed in third to move within 27 seconds of regaining the race leader's jersey.

Vuelta 2008, stage 6: Valverde got caught in a crash, but still finished third.

Photo: Graham Watson

Despite the strong position, Valverde, who won the second stage into Jaén and wore the leader's jersey for one day, remains uncommitted about his chances to fend off Sastre and Astana's Alberto Contador.

"The bunch broke in different parts in the final and I gained some seconds compared with the favorites but those seconds will not be important in the next stages even if it is of course always better to gain some than lose them," he said. "I tried to go for the stage win and when I saw the finishing line, I attacked but it was already too late."

All eyes will be on Contador as the race turns into the mountains.

After a superb time trial that pushed him into fourth place overall at 57 seconds back, Contador is in the driver's seat going into the Pyrénées.

With the support of Leipheimer and a motivated Astana, fueled by their snub at this year's Tour de France, Contador will be trying to become the fifth man to win all three grand tours.

That's heady stuff, but first he'll have to get around Sastre, Valverde and some young guns ready to prove their place in the bigs.

If the first week is any indication, the rest of the Vuelta should be one of the best clashes the Spanish tour has seen in years.