Vuelta a Espana: Daniel Navarro wins stage 13 solo as Chris Froome retains fourth place

Daniel Navarro launched his stage-winning attack with 2.2km to go

Spain’s Daniel Navarro claimed an impressive solo victory on stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana as Alberto Contador retained his overall lead and Chris Froome consolidated fourth place.

Navarro attacked out of the peloton on a sharp uncategorised climb 2.2km from the finish in Obregon and hung on to win by two seconds from second-placed Daniel Moreno and third-placed Wilco Kelderman, who had both set off in pursuit.

Contador and Froome crossed the line three seconds later in a group of about 15 riders also containing Alejandro Valverde, Rigoberto Uran and Joaquim Rodriguez.

The result sees Contador maintain his 20-second lead over second-placed Valverde in the general classification, with Uran staying 1min 08sec back in third and Froome 1min 20sec adrift in fourth.

Late ramp decisive

Stage 13 contained three categorised climbs on its 188.7km journey from Belorado to Obregon in northern Spain, but it was a short and steep ramp 2.4km from the finish line on which the day appeared destined to be decided.

There was scope for a breakaway winner and a strong 11-man group containing the likes of Peter Sagan (Cannondale), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) moved clear with hopes of staying away all the way to the finish.

However, Orica-GreenEdge and FDJ.fr were eyeing a victory for Michael Matthews and Nacer Bouhanni respectively and consequently combined to catch the last of the escapees with just over 7km to go.

Contador’s Tinkoff-Saxo subsequently moved to the front of the peloton and set a frenetic pace in a bid to deter attacks, but as soon as they hit the climb, Gianluca Brambilla (Omega Pharma – Quick-Ste) darted out of the pack and opened up a decent lead.

Counter-attacks fall short

Although still early in the climb, Navarro (Cofidis) decided to follow 200m later, and he quickly passed and overtook the Italian as he surged into a lone lead.

Back down the road, Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) twice tried and failed with attacks, before Froome (Team Sky) also put in a dig 1.4km from home that was quickly snuffed out.

Moreno (Katusha) and Kelderman (Belkin) were next to try their luck inside the final 1km and while they were not chased down by the likes of Contador and Valverde (Movistar), they left it too late to catch the marauding Navarro, who claimed the first Grand Tour stage win of his career.

Stage 13 result

1 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, 4:21:04
2 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha, +2sec
3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin, same time
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar, +5
5 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ.fr, st
6 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale, st
7 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin, st
9 Dan Martin (Ire) Garmin-Sharp, st
10 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
Selected others
11 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha, st
12 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
13 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, st

General classification

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 48:59:23
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar, +20sec
3 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +1:08
4 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, +1:20
5 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha, +1:35
6 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing, +1:52
7 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, +2:13
8 Winner Anacona (Col) Lampre-Merida, +2:37
9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin, +2:55
10 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale, +3:51