Vuelta 2016 Stage 9: De la Cruz takes stage win and red jersey

In the 9th stage of the Vuelta a España David de la Cruz climbs to the stage win and red jersey. The Spaniard is the best rider of an early break of twelve, besting Dries Devenyns at the closing climb up Alto del Naranco. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage Vuelta 2016

1. David de la Cruz (spa)
2. Dries Devenyns (bel) + 0.27
3. Moreno Moser (ita) + 0.33
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (spa) + 0.51
5. Mathias Frank (swi) s.t.
6. Alexandre Geniez (fra) + 0.53
7. Bartosz Huzarski (pol) + 0.58
8. Thomas De Gendt (bel) + 1.04
9. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
10. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 1.10

13. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.56
14. Samuel Sánchez (spa) s.t.
15. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
16. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
17. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
18. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
20. Leopold König (cze) s.t.
21. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
23. Andrew Talansky (usa) s.t.
24. Darwin Atapuma (col) + 3.04
26. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.

GC afther 9th stage
1. David de la Cruz (spa)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.22
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.41
4. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.49
5. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.19
6. Leopold König (cze) + 1.38
7. Alberto Contador (spa) + 2.01
8. Darwin Atapuma (col) + 2.06
9. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 2.07
10. Samuel Sánchez (spa) + 2.08

11. Simon Yates (gbr) + 2.09
12. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 2.14
13. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 2.46
22. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 4.34

Race report
With 12 kilometres done Luis León Sánchez, Thomas De Gendt, Jan Bakelants, Moreno Moser, Mathias Frank, Simon Clarke, Alexandre Geniez, Dries Devenyns, Dylan Teuns, David de la Cruz, Bartosz Huzarski and Pello Bilbao jump clear to race to a maximum lead at almost 5 minutes.

Thomas De Gendt is the first rider to crest Puerto de San Isidro (2nd category), ahead of Alexandre Geniez and Simon Clarke. The Flemish rider is first at the top of the next climbs too, thus taking the KOM-lead.

With 22 kms left Devenyns and Bakelants attack. Theuns re-joins the, yet they are accompanied by their fellow-escapees with the exception of De Gendt, Clarke and Bilbao who have been dropped.

Geniez is first at the top and joins De Gendt in the KOM-lead. In the drop Devenyns attacks with De la Cruz. In Oviedo De Gendt hooks up with the chasers and he jumps clear. Bilbao follows his example. Yet they are both brought back.

With 500 metres left de la Cruz attacks to power to victory. He takes the red jersey with a 22 seconds lead over Quintana.

The GC riders finish all in the same time.