Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) has won the eighth stage of the 2012 Vuelta a Espana.

The Spaniard was first home at the end of a mountainous 174.7km stage from Lleida to Andorra.

Race leader, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) was second, while joint pre-race favourite, Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank), finished third.

Britain’s Chris Froome (Team Sky) was fourth, finishing 15 seconds down on the three Spaniards, but remains second overall, 33 seconds behind Rodriguez.

Valverde, who won stage three, and who remained in contention for overall victory after recovering from a crash on stage four, said a high speed from the start had made the stage hard.

“Sky set a very fast pace during the final 40k and the beginning of the last climb was super strong.

“I had very good sensations and that’s why I launched the first attack, also with the intention of dropping GC rivals coming behind,” he said.

Froome delivered another courageous performance, setting the pace on a final climb of 18 hairpins, dragging the three Spaniards with him.

But when he attacked at the denouement, Contador responded with an effort he was an unable to follow.

Valverde and Rodriguez did, however, and while they pursued their countryman, Froome could do little more than watch them go.

Team Sky’s directeur sportif, Nicolas Portal, said: “Froomey lost a bit of time but he is still strong and stayed in second place. We learnt a lot today and we will look to keep improving.”

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 Vuelta a Espana stage eight – result

1) Alejandro Valverde (SPA) – Movistar – 4.06.39
2)Joaquim Rodriguez (SPA) – Katusha
3) Alberto Contador (SPA) – Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
4) Christopher Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +15”
5) Daniel Moreno (SPA) – Katusha +23”
6) Benat Intxausti (SPA) – Movistar +33”
7) Igor Anton (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi
8) Winner Anacona (COL) – Lampre-ISD +39”
9) Robert Gesink (NED) – Rabobank
10) Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL) – Lampre-ISD +42”

General classification

1) Joaquim Rodriguez (SPA) – Katusha – 29.59.35
2) Christopher Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +33”
3) Alberto Contador (SPA) – Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank +40”
4) Alejandro Valverde (SPA) – Movistar +50”
5) Robert Gesink (NED) – Rabobank +1.41
6) Daniel Moreno (SPA) – Katusha +1.48”
7) Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R-La Mondiale +2.14
8) Igor Anton (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi +2.47
9) Laurens Ten Dam (NED) – Rabobank +2.58
10) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Rabobank +3.07