Mollema Wins Stage 17

La Vuelta

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema won stage 17 of the Vuelta a España  but Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead.

The time gaps between the top four in the general classification were unchanged, with Italy's Nibali leading American Chris Horner by 28 seconds.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche moved up from sixth to fifth place after finishing 10th in Wednesday's stage, but trails Nibali by three minutes and 43 seconds.

Mollema edged out Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen for the stage victory.

With the majority of the leading riders receiving the same time for the 189km stage from Calahorra to Burgos in northern Spain, Astana rider Nibali's 14th place was enough to retain his narrow advantage over RadioShack's Horner, who came 17th.

With four stages remaining, the race continues on Thursday with Stage 18 - a 186.5km mountainous stage from Burgos to Pena Cabarga.

Result of Stage 17:

1. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands/Belkin) 4 hours, 44 minutes, 28 seconds

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Team Sky) same time

3. Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina/Lampre)

4. Tyler Farrar (US/Garmin)

5. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland/RadioShack)

6. Grega Bole (Slovenia/Vacansoleil)

7. Luca Paolini (Italy/Katusha)

8. Paul Voss (Germany/NetApp)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain/Movistar)

10. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo - Tinkoff)

Overall standings after Stage 17:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 68 hours, 50 minutes, 29 seconds

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +28 secs

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:14

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:29

5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:43

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +5:09

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +6:08

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:17

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:33

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +10:52

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Barguil Wins Stage 13 Breakaway

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France's Warren Barguil broke clear in the final kilometre to win stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana in Castelldefels.

The 21-year-old was involved in a 10-man breakaway in the final 40km of the 169km race from Valls.

The Argos-Shimano rider powered up a short uphill finish to secure his first professional win from Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini and Dutchman Bauke Mollema.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali finished with his rivals to maintain his 31-second race lead over Ireland's Nicolas Roche.

With three mountainous stages coming up over the weekend, the main contenders were content to conserve their energy and let the breakaway riders contest the finish.

And with more experienced riders such as Michele Scarponi, Mollema and Nocentini keeping tabs on each other, Barguil slipped away to take the victory by seven seconds.

The group containing Nibali and Roche finished two minutes 43 seconds adrift.

Saturday's 14th stage takes the riders 155.7km from Baga to a summit finish in Andorra.

Result of stage 13

1. Warren Barguil (France / Argos) 4:00:13"

2. Rinaldo Nocentini (Italy / AG2R) +7"

3. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Belkin)

4. Ivan Santaromita (Italy / BMC Racing)

5. Xabier Zandio (Spain / Team Sky)

6. Amets Txurruka (Spain / Caja Rural)

7. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre)

8. Egoi Martinez (Spain / Euskaltel)

9. Jerome Coppel (France / Cofidis) +24"

10. Benat Intxausti (Spain / Movistar) +2:34"

Overall standings after stage 13

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 49:29:02"

2. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +31"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +46"

4. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:33"

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