Movistar may have enjoyed more the lion’s share of possession of the red jersey so far, through Jonathan Castroviejo, Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana but this race is still far from theirs.
Resurgent performances from Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Team Sky), strength in the mountains from Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Lampre-Merida’s Winner Anacona surging back up the GC means just a hair’s breadth separates the big-name contenders.
Valverde’s stage six win was hugely impressive, not least the way he ramped up the pace before storming to the stage win.
Contador, however, has arguably been the most impressive – his insistence he was just finding form in the first fortnight has been rubbished by some outstanding climbing performances.
If this is Contador on the recovery trail, just think what he was about to do at full fitness at the Tour de France.
His attack off the front of the red jersey group on stage nine showed he is still in good form.
If he can time trial as everybody knows he can on stage ten, he could well be in red himself come Tuesday evening.
Froome is another to have come back strong from injury, meanwhile, showing great tactical nous to claw back time overall after a below-par team time trial.
Picking up bonus seconds has reduced the arrears significantly, and while he missed Contador’s attack on stage nine, he finished alongside the then red jersey Valverde to remain very much in the hunt overall.
Vuelta a Espana 2014: general classification after stage nine
1) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +35.58.05hrs
2) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff-Saxo +3”
3) Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar +8”
4) Winner Anacona (COL) – Lampre-Merida +9”
5) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +28”
6) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha +30”
7) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana +1.06
8) Robert Gesink (NED) – Belkin Pro Cycling +1.19
9) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Omega Pharma-Quickstep +1.26
10) Warren Barguil (FRA) – Giant-Shimano – ST
