Ben Swift (Team Sky) must wonder what he has to do to capture his maiden Grand Tour victory.
The Rotherham rider, a world scratch race champion on the track, has been tantalizingly close to capturing a Vuelta a Espana stage win on each of the few occasions a flat finish has ensured a bunch sprint.
Having previously lost out to John Degenkolb, Swfit was today outsprinted by the narrowest of margins by RadioShack-Nissan-Trek’s Daniele Bennati.
Here are the key moments from stage 18 as seen through the lens of Stefano Sirotti.
After his solo victory yesterday, Alberto Contador enjoyed his first day in the red jersey of race leader
A flat finish in Valladoid set the stage for a bunch finish
British road race champion, Ian Stannard, put in his usual impressive shift, this time for Ben Swift
Swift gave it everything, but lost out to Bennati by the narrowest of margins
Bennati enjoys another Grand Tour stage win to add to an impressive palmares
