LAGOS DE COVADONGA, Spain — Joaquin Rodriguez withstood Alberto Contador's repeated attacks to successfully defend his overall lead in the Spanish Vuelta's 15th stage, won by Antonio Piedra of Caja Rural Sunday. Rodriguez stayed close to Contador's back wheel with every surge by fellow Spaniard Contador on the final special category climb to the finish line at the Lagos de Covadonga summit. Piedra finished the 186.5-km stage in the Picos de Europa mountains in 5 hours, 1 minute, 23 seconds. Ruben Perez, Lloyd Mondory and Piedra's teammate David de la Fuente were next. — AP