The Vuelta offers another exciting stage even if the impact on the classification in the end is far less than the show that took place on the impervious climb to the 1.815 meters of the Sierra de la Pandera. Chris Froome was attacked first by Chaves and De la Cruz, then by Nibali and Contador, but after an initial moment in which he gave the impression of giving up, the British in the red jersey – as he has become accustomed to us by now – started to twirl his legs as only he can do, sewing up the hole. Chaves, after the outburst, yielded, De la Cruz even packed himself.
Contador would have liked to give Nibali an extra hand but even the Pistolero found himself, after so many days of daring, a little short of breath. So two kilometers from the finish line, after many skirmishes, even Nibali saw his attack wear off. A sextet formed – Froome, Nibali, Miguel Angel Lopez, Wilco Kelderman, Zakarin and Contador – behind Rafa Maika, by now uncatchable, who had lost his nine companions in the breakaway that began in the first part of the stage on the climb and was making one of the his best victories.
Now between Froome and Nibali the challenge was concentrated on the bonuses, or rather on the 4" bonus for third place because just before the flamme rouge of the last km the Colombian Lopez with an imperious sprint left the company, finishing second 27" from Maika . Nibali, showing a condition that improves day by day, got the better of Froome, Zakarin and Kelderman.
Contador, as proof of having given everything he had inside by attacking with the Shark, arrives 6” later. Thanks to the time bonus Nibali reduces his gap from Froome to 55” on the eve of another “highlight” stage to be seen today, which will take the Vuelta to over 2.500 meters in the Sierra Nevada.
