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2014 Vuelta a España Stage 9: Winner Anacona wins, Quintana nicks race lead

On the first stage that the 2014 Vuelta a España saw rain and the last stage before the first rest day, Winner Anacona (Colombia/Lampre) took Sunday’s victory on the summit of the Cat. 1 Aramon Valdelinares. Anacona’s compatriot Nairo Quintana (Movistar) managed to snag a rampant Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) at the finish line to take the red jersey from teammate Alejandro Valverde (Spain).

Quintana becomes first Colombian in 13 years to wear red. Photo: Prensa Vuelta
Quintana becomes first Colombian in 13 years to wear red. Photo: Prensa Vuelta

The day’s breakaway was a monster – 31 riders including Ryder Hesjedal, King of the Mountains leader Lluis Bonet (Spain/Caja-Rural) and Anacona. On the first categorized climb of the day, a Cat. 3, Bonet and Jerome Cousin (France/Europcar) battled for the points. At the peak of the climb, the breakaway held a 8:30 lead over the Movistar-driven peloton with 61-km to go.

At the foot of the Cat. 2 Alto de San Rafael, the heavens opened and drenched the escapees. It was here that Anacona took off, with Bob Jungels (Luxembourg/Trek) and Javier Moreno (Spain/Movistar) the only breakmates able to grab his wheel. Behind in the peloton Sky took over the pacemaking.

For a while, it looked like Anacona would be the first Colombian to wear the Vuelta leader’s jersey since Santiago Botero in 2001, for, with 13.5 km to go, the lead trio held a 5:30 gap over the peloton and 45 seconds over their breakmates. On the opening slopes of the final climb, the Cat. 1, 8-km Aramon Valdelinares, Anacona shed Jungels and then Moreno.

Anacona’s red jersey bid was doomed as fireworks detonated in the peloton. Dan Martin (Ireland/Garmin-Sharp) was the first to attack. Katusha appeared at the front as Sky disappeared. With the Irishman back in the fold, Contador launched a withering attack. After a pause, Quintana and then Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) lit out after him.

Contador's decisive attack on Valdelinares. Photo: Prensa Vuelta
Contador’s decisive attack on Valdelinares. Photo: Prensa Vuelta

Anacona’s celebrations were overshadowed by the action behind. Quintana and Rodriguez picked up a lift from a Katusha rider left over from the breakaway and caught Contador right at the line. The trio put 23-seconds into Valverde, Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky), Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana), Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Martin. Instead of Anacona following Botero in Colombian cycling lore, it would be Quintana.

Anacona is now two points behind Bonet in the King of the Mountains competition and 4th on GC.

Ryder Hesjedal was seventh on the day and jumped 12 places up the GC to 33rd.

Monday marks the blessed first rest day for the tired peloton.

2014 Vuelta a España Stage 9
1) Winner Anacona (Colombia/Lampre) 4:34:14
2) Alexey Lutsenko (Kazakhstan/Astana) +0:45
3) Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre) +0:50
7) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +1:33
161) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cannondale) +26:42

2014 Vuelta a España GC
1) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) 35:58:05
2) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) +0:03
3) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +0:08
33) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +9:15
167) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cannondale) +1:24:18

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