Spaniard Enric Mas extended his Vuelta a Espana lead, a day after previous red jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar crashed out of the race, by winning Sunday’s mountainous ninth stage.
Mas beat Briton Oscar Onley in an uphill two-man sprint to claim the win and extend his lead over four-time former winner Primoz Roglic, who finished third at 12 seconds.
The Slovenian trails Spaniard Mas by 1min 18sec, with Austrian Felix Gall, who shipped 18sec in finishing fourth, third overall at 1min 39sec.
Onley, who leads the best young rider category, moved up a place to fourth at 2min 20sec as former winner Sepp Kuss tumbled three places to seventh overall after coming home 1min 44sec behind Mas.
Five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar had been dominating the race until he crashed heavily on Saturday, breaking his collarbone.
He was leading Mas by 3min 50sec when he fell as he also suffered a concussion.
He is due to undergo surgery on his broken collarbone.
“Now I understand Tadej — the red jersey gives you wings,” smiled Mas, who said that he felt in the form of his life.
His victory on the 187.4km mountainous stage from Villajoyosa to Alto de Aitana, ended his Spanish team Movistar’s five-year win drought at their home Grand Tour.
“The team was 10 out of 10, we controlled the situation really well and I felt good in the finish,” added the stage winner.
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