When the riders began stage 7 of the Vuelta in Alhendín, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was in the red leaders’ jersey for the second time in the race. He held on to that lead when he finished in the peloton on stage 7, behind Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) who attacked solo from the day’s breakaway before riding away to victory.
Stage 8 finished with a bunch kick in Albacete, with the Cofidis-bound Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) taking a controversial, swerve-laden sprint win ahead of Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale). Valverde finished in the peloton, earning a fourth day in red.
And on stage 9 — the final day before the first rest day — Winner Anacona (Lampre-Merida) lived up to his name, attacking out of a 31-rider-strong break and soloing to victory. A late attack from Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) saw Valverde distanced slightly, but it wasn’t all bad for Movistar — Nairo Quintana was able to follow Contador and moved into the overall lead.
And so, ahead of today’s stage 10 ITT, Quintana leads the GC by just three seconds with Valverde a further five seconds behind. There’ll almost certainly be another change in the standings once today’s stage is complete.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the following gallery of photos from stages 7 to 9 courtesy of BrakeThrough Media. Click through to follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
- Alejandro speaks to the press ahead of stage 7, his second day in red.
- There’s been plenty of fan support for Valverde in his home Grand Tour.
- Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) and Hubert Dupont were two of the four breakaway riders on stage 7.
- Back in the main field the GC favourites marked one another.
- De Marchi won solo after leaving his breakaway companions behind.
- Elia Favilli (Lampre-Merida) and Francisco Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) formed the day’s breakaway on stage 8, getting a lead of more than seven minutes at its maximum.
- OPQS soigneurs pack musettes for their riders at the feedzone on stage 8.
- The warm weather has made cool drinks a must.
- Nacer Bouhanni careened all over the road in the dash to the line …
- … just edging out Michael Matthews who appeared to have to brake to avoid hitting Bouhanni.
- All seemed to be well between the two …
- … but Matthews and his Orica-GreenEdge were concerned about the fairness of the final sprint. The commissaires were deadlocked on whether the Frenchman’s move was legal, and the result stood.
- Movistar patrols the front of the peloton for then-leader Alejandro Valverde on stage 9.
- Some fans wait by the roadside for the riders to fly by.
- Winner Anacona made his move from the 31-rider break on the penultimate climb, being joined by two others. He then attacked again on the final climb, going clear solo.
- Anacona powered clear to win the stage 45 seconds ahead of Alexey Lutsenko.
- A late attack from Alberto Contador distanced then-leader Valverde, moving Contador into second overall and Quintana into the overall lead.
- Quintana now leads the Vuelta a Espana by just three seconds over Alberto Contador ahead of today’s stage 10 ITT.