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Vuelta a Espana 2014: rest day round-up

Nairo Quintana holds red jersey as Colombians shine again

Once again, a strong feature of this year’s race has been success for the Colombians, not least Winner Anacona’s stage nine win.

Anacona’s first professional win, on a day when countryman Nairo Quintana moved into the race lead and a third Colombian, Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) consolidated his top-ten spot, was hugely impressive.

His climbing – just a day after losing time overall in the crosswinds – saw him burying himself for the stage win, and had he been nine seconds faster it would have brought the red jersey too.

Winner Anacona is the latest Colombian success story of a fine season (pic: Sirotti)

For Quintana, meanwhile, it is a testament to he and Valverde that their own battle for supremacy is not overshadowing what has been a great race so far.

He was out of form on stage six – and almost lot out in the crosswinds on stage eight too – but surged into the lead on stage nine with great awareness to follow Rodirguez and Contador.

Uran is also still very much in the hunt, with the time trial likely to provide him with the opportunity to strengthen his overall position.

Johan Esteban Chaves, another Colombian, had been well-placed overall until stage nine too.

And all this after Quintana and Uran finished first and second at the Giro – with three stage wins between them and Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) won a stage and the King of the Mountains title.

The future looks very, very bright for the Latin Americans.

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