Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) took over the leader’s red jersey at the Vuelta a España at the end of yesterday’s eighth stage. The Colombian rider proved strongest of the GC favourites on the gruelling summit finish of La Camperona.

The stage was won by veteran Russian Sergey Lagutin (Katusha), one of the eleven escapees of the day. Lagutin, 35, outwitted Frenchmen Axel Domont (Ag2R) and Perrig Quemeneur (Direct Energie) in the final stretch, to snatch a career-topping stage win.

The big battle between the GC leaders revealed the limits of race leader Darwin Apatuma (BMC), but more importantly of Tour de Fance champion Chris Froome, who faltered in the first big test of the race this year, while Alberto Contador did not look too affected by his crash in the stage 7 finale.

Eleven riders took advantage of crosswinds to break clear after nine kilometres. A tailwind then helped them build a solid lead over the peloton as they covered 45.8 kilometres in the first hour. After 105 km, the gap reached eight minutes over a peloton led by Darwin Atapuma’s BMC team-mates. The gap went up to 10:30 with 40 km to go as the average speed remained over 45 kph. The stage win was then promised to one of the 11 escapees.

Under the flamme rouge, Pieter Serry (Etixx-Quick Step), Lagutin, Domont and Quemeneur were the last four riders left to battle it out for the stage. Veteran Lagutin was the most experienced of the lot and he surged in the last 200 metres to snatch victory.

In the group of favourites, Chris Froome tried to toughen the race in the hardest part of the final ramp. But after dropping Contador, he suddenly found himself stuck on the tarmac while Quintana attacked and went on to conquer the red jersey. Froome was even overtaken by Contador in the final stretch.

Overall, Quintana now leads his team-mate Alejandro Valverde by 19 seconds with Froome third, 27 seconds adrift.

The onboard highlights from the stage really shows how tough the final climb was.

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