Vuelta 2018 Stage 14: Simon Yates climbs to victory and red jersey

La Vuelta's 14th stage serves another tough and mountainous day of racing. Travelling over four intermediate climbs, the race boils down to the steep final climb. Simon Yates attacks in the last 600 metres and wins ahead of Miguel Ángel López and Alejandro Valverde. The Brit is the new overall leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 14th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.02
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.05
5. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.07
6. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.11
7. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.19
8. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.27
9. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.37
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.39

11. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.47
12. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.53
15. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.02
21. Rafal Majka (pol) + 4.33
25. David de la Cruz (spa) + 4.55
30. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 6.00
37. George Bennett (nzl) + 7.42
45. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 9.16

GC after the 14th stage
1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.20
3. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.25
4. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.47
5. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.23
6. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.28
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 1.40
8. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.47
9. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 1.55
10. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 2.08

11. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.46
12. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 3.21
13. Fabio Aru (ita) + 3.26

Race report
Following a delayed start, Michal Kwiatkowski is the first rider to open up a gap. Nicolas Roche, Thomas De Gendt, Alessandro De Marchi, Michael Woods and Ivan Gárcia Cortina join the Pole. The peloton trails them by around 3 minutes on the Puerto de San Isidro and Alto de la Colladona. De Gendt pockets most KOM points on both summits.

Underway to the Alto de la Mozqueta the gap widens to almost 4 minutes before it falls to 2 minutes at the foot of the climb. Gárcia Cortina can’t follow the pace, but the gap remains stable before De Gendt once again takes the KOM points at the top. A little later the Flemish rider loses contact after a mechanical. Woods hits the deck in the descent and the original front group is halved.

Bahrain-Merida puts pressure in the descent and the GC group splits. Leader Jesús Herrada, David de la Cruz and George Bennett lose contact.

Michal Kwiatkowski goes solo on the Alto de la Falla de Los Lobos. The Pole reaches the crest almost 1 minute ahead of the GC group, but he is brought back just before tackling the final climb.

Steven Kruijswijk sets the pace at the front and he distances the first chasers, Richard Carapaz and Alejandro Valverde. The other GC riders are a little bit further back before regaining contact with the two. Fabio Aru, Tony Gallopin, Wilco Kelderman, Ion Izagirre en Emanuel Buchmann can’t follow the pace.

Valverde and Mas rejoin Kruijswijk 2.3 kilometres before the top with other favourites on their wheel. Nairo Quintana and Miguel Ángel López launch a counter-attack. Kruijswijk brings them back before the two Colombians give it another go. They open up a proper gap and Simon Yates digs deep to pull them back.

Yates launches the decisive with 600 metres to go. López and Valverde try to claw back to his wheel, but finish 2 seconds down on the new overall leader. Valverde swaps places with his team mate Quintana, respectively 20 and 25 seconds down on the maillot rojo.