Froome extends Vuelta lead as Lopez wins 11th stage
Astana's Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez celebrates on the podium after winning the 11th stage during the 72nd edition of "La Vuelta" Tour of Spain cycling race, a 187.50 km route between Lorca to Calar Alto on August 30, 2017. PHOTO | JOSE JORDAN |
What you need to know:
- Froome, hoping to add this to his triumph in this season's Tour de France, crossed in second, 14sec adrift, to retain the overall leader's red jersey and extend his lead to one minute and 19 seconds.
- Froome is aiming to become only the third man to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year.
- Thursday's 12th stage is a 160km ride from Motril to Antequera featuring a 1st and 2nd category climb.
CALAR ALTO, SPAIN
Chris Froome tightened his grip on the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday with an eye-catching second to Colombia's Miguel Angel Lopez in the mountainous 11th stage.
Astana rider Lopez secured the biggest win of his career when he burst clear of a breakaway group in the closing two kilometres of the challenging 187.5km ride from Lorca to the summit finish in Calar Alto.
Froome, hoping to add this to his triumph in this season's Tour de France, crossed in second, 14sec adrift, to retain the overall leader's red jersey and extend his lead to one minute and 19 seconds.
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali took third, lifting him into second above Colombian Esteban Chaves in the overall standings.
The big loser on the day's ride in rain was Ireland's Nicolas Roche, who started the day 36sec behind Froome but ended it staring at a 4min 45sec deficit, dropping him from third to 11th in the general classification.
Froome is aiming to become only the third man to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year.
Thursday's 12th stage is a 160km ride from Motril to Antequera featuring a 1st and 2nd category climb.
