Vuelta 2017: Froome wins in Cumbre del Sol to extend lead

In the 9th stage of La Vuelta the riders travel to a steep closing climb of 4.1 kilometres in Cumbre del Sol. Chris Froome attacks with 500 metres left to climb and he holds off Esteban Chaves and Michael Woods to cement his overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2017 Vuelta

1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.04
3. Michael Woods (can) + 0.05
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.08
5. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
6. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.12
7. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
7. Sam Oomen (nld) s.t.
9. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 0.14
10. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.

11. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.17
12. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.19
13. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
16. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.27
17. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.29
18. Wout Poels (nld) + 0.55
20. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.09
106. Simon Yates (gbr) + 10.37

GC after the 9th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.36
3. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 1.05
4. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.17
5. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 1.27
6. David de la Cruz (spa) + 1.30
7. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.33
8. Michael Woods (can) + 1.52
9. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.55
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.15

11. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 2.31
12. Sam Oomen (nld) + 3.04
13. Alberto Contador (spa) + 3.32
14. Wout Poels (nld) + 3.45
15. Jan Polanc (slo) + 4.07
16. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 4.09
17. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 4.42
18. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 4.46
19. Nelson Oliveira (por) + 4.50

Race report
After 16 kms of hard racing Markel Irizar, Marc Soler, Marco Haller, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Tobias Ludvigsson, Anthony Turgis, Lluis Mas, Diego Rubio, Conor Dunne and Ricardo Vilela jump off the front of the peloton to race to a maximum lead of more 3 minutes.

The last climb is tackled for the first time with approximately 50 kilometres to go (although not all the way to the summit). Soler and Ludvigsson leave their companions behind. On the top the gap is down to almost 2 minutes.

With 6 kms remaining the attackers are reeled in, while Bardet and Mas attack with 3 kms left to climb. Carapaz rejoins to head out on his own. Bardet counter attacks, but he is brought back by the main group. And then… status quo.

Eventually Froome pulls away from his rivals with 500 metres left. Esteban Chaves and Michael Woods try to get to his wheel, but the red jersey kicks for the line and wins 4 seconds ahead of the Colombian with the Canadian 1 second further back.

Simon Yates drops down on GC as he loses more than 10 minutes.