Horner Extends Vuelta Lead

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Chris Horner extended his overall lead over Vincenzo Nibali after finishing second on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España.

American Horner, 41, took a three-second lead over Nibali in the previous stage and stretched it to 37 seconds on the summit finish at Alto de l'Angliru.

Horner was 26 seconds behind France's Kenny Elissonde, the stage winner, with Nibali 54 seconds back in fourth.

The year's final Grand Tour race finishes in Madrid on Sunday.

RadioShack's Horner had to repel repeated attacks by Nibali in the closing stages, but wore down the Giro d'Italia winner by the foggy finish.

"Nibali's attacks make this win much more epic, the fans must have been on the edges of their seats back home," said Horner.

Asked if he needed time to realise he was on the brink of his first Grand Tour victory, Horner replied: "I've had lots of time to think about it, about how much suffering it's taken to get this. What I'm feeling today will last a lifetime".

Horner ended 28 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde in third, with Nibali given the same time in fourth.

Valverde is third overall, one minute 36 seconds behind Horner, with Ireland's Nicolas Roche in fifth.

Results of stage 20:

1. Kenny Elissonde (Fra/FDJ.fr) 3:55:36"

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +26"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +54"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana)

5. Andre Cardoso (Por/Caja Rural)

6. Dominik Nerz (Ger/BMC Racing)

7. Jose Mendes (Por/NetApp) +1:15"

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +1:45"

9. Serge Pauwels (Bel/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +1:52"

10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ.fr) +1:59"

Overall standings after stage 20:

1. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) 81:52:01"

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) +37"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1:36"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +3:22"

5. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Saxo-Tinkoff) +7:11"

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +8:00"

7. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ.fr) +8:41"

8. Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel) +9:51"

9. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp) +10:11"

10. Daniel Moreno (Spa/Katusha) +13:11"

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Horner Reclaims Vuelta Lead

La Vuelta

Chris Horner snatched the overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana from Vincenzo Nibali after Joaquim Rodriguez won the 19th stage with a stunning late burst.

Rodriguez finished 11 seconds ahead of Diego Ulissi in the 181km ride from San Vicente de la Barquera to Oviedo.

American Horner came in fifth, six seconds ahead of Nibali, to move three seconds in front of the Italian overall with only two stages left.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde posted the same time as Horner to remain third.

Spanish rider Rodriguez attacked with just over a kilometre of the mountainous stage left to claim a solo victory.

But the real drama was just behind as 41-year-old Horner pulled away from Giro d'Italia champion Nibali over the final meters of the climb to seize a potentially decisive lead in the general classification.

Saturday's penultimate stage is a 142km course, including three major summits and an ascent of a special-category climb to the Alto de l'Angliru peak, before the traditional finish in Madrid on Sunday.

Result of Stage 19:

1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 4 hours, 16 minutes 13 seconds

2. Diego Ulissi (Italy / Lampre) +11 seconds

3. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) "

4. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) "

5. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +14"

6. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) "

7. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre) +16"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +20"

9. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) "

10. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +23"

Overall standings after Stage 19:

1. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) 77 hours, 56 minutes, 5 seconds

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:06"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:57"

5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:49"

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +6:00"

7. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +6:38"

8. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +7:02"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +7:45"

10. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +11:05"

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Vasil Wins as Nibali Lead Squeezed

La Vuelta

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy saw his overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana cut to only three seconds after he finished 10th on stage 18 on Thursday.

Team Sky rider Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus won the mountainous 186.5km (115.9 mile) stage.

Nibali's nearest rival Chris Horner of the United States came sixth, 25 seconds ahead of Nibali.

Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez both made up a handful of seconds on Nibali.

However, the Spanish duo remain in third and fourth place respectively in the general classification for the Vuelta, which finishes in Madrid on Sunday.

Thursday's 18th stage, from Burgos to Pena Cabarga, included five categorised climbs as well as a difficult final ascent.

Denmark's Chris Sorensen was the only rider to finish within a minute of Kiryienka and took second place in the stage.

Spanish duo Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez both managed to make up a handful of seconds on Nibali, but remain back in third and fourth place respectively.

On Friday, the 19th stage is a 181km (112 mile) medium mountain stage between San Vicente de la Barquera and Alto del Naranco.

Result of Stage 18:

1. Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus/Team Sky) 4 hours, 46, minutes, 47 seconds

2. Chris Sorensen (Denmark/Saxo - Tinkoff) +28 secs

3. Adam Hansen (Australia/Lotto) +1'18"

4. Martin Kohler (Switzerland/BMC Racing) +1'34"

5. Egoi Martinez (Spain/Euskaltel) +1'42"

6. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +1'53"

7. Amets Txurruka (Spain/Caja Rural) + 2'02"

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2'13"

9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +2'13"

10. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) +2'18"

Overall standings after Stage 18:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 73:39:35"

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +3"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:09"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:24"

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

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +5:44"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +6:14"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:35"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:51"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +11:10"

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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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Nibali Vuelta Lead Cut

La Vuelta

Frenchman Warren Barguil won a second Vuelta a Espana stage in four days as race leader Vincenzo Nibali's advantage was cut to 28 seconds.

Argos-Shimano's Barguil, 21, held on to take the 146.8km stage in a photo finish from Sky's Rigoberto Uran.

Nibali, 28, struggled on the climb to the finish and his lead was reduced by 22 seconds with five stages left.

The Italian Astana rider's closest rival, American Chris Horner, broke away from him with about 3km remaining.

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde remains in third place overall but he also gained time on Nibali and is now just one minute 14 seconds behind the Giro d'Italia winner.

Result of Stage 16:

1. Warren Barguil (France/Argos) 3:43:31"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Team Sky) same time

3. Bartosz Huzarski (Poland/NetApp) +3"

4. Dominik Nerz (Germany/BMC Racing) +8"

5. Jose Herrada (Spain/Movistar) +20"

6. Mickael Cherel (France/AG2R) +37"

7. Maciej Paterski (Poland/Cannondale)

8. Andre Cardoso (Portugal/Caja Rural) +40"

9. Amets Txurruka (Spain/Caja Rural) +42"

10. Chris Sorensen (Denmark/Saxo - Tinkoff) +45"

Overall standings after Stage 16:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 64:06:01"

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

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

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

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +3:38"

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

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +4:37"

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

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

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +9:21"

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Nibali Retains Vuelta lead

Getty Images

Vincenzo Nibali maintained his 50-second lead in the Vuelta a España after Frenchman Alexandre Geniez took a solo victory on stage 15.

The Italian finished alongside his four closest rivals in the overall standings after the second Pyrenean stage.

Geniez, part of a 28-man breakaway, took off 20km from the finish to surge away and finish three minutes clear.

Italian Michele Scarponi was second while Ireland's Nicholas Roche gained 13 seconds on Nibali to finish third.

Roche remains sixth overall, 3:49" behind Nibali after the 224.9 km stage from Andorra la Vella to Peyragudes in France, the most mountainous of the entire race.

Geniez took his maiden Grand Tour win after more than 5,000m of climbing and six hours of riding.

Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, fourth overall, made several attacks on the final ascent but was unable to shake off Nibali, who finished fourth on the stage.

"It was a very tough day, and Rodriguez pushed as hard as he could on that last climb," said Nibali. "I and my team had to work hard to keep everything under control."

Philippe Gilbert, the world road-race champion, and world time trial champion Tony Martin both pulled out during the stage.

The Road World Championships take place in Florence, Italy from 23-29 September.

Monday's final Pyrenean stage concludes with a summit finish at Sallent de Gallego. The Vuelta finishes next Sunday, 15 September, in Madrid.

Result of stage 15:

1. Alexandre Geniez (France / FDJ.fr) 6:20:12"

2. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre) +3:02"

3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:07"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3:20"

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)

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

7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain / Movistar) +3:23"

10. David Arroyo (Spain / Caja Rural)

Overall standing after 15 stages:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 60:20:21"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +50"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:42"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:57"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +3:43"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:49"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +4:59"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +6:18"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +7:46"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia / Astana) +9:11"

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Ratto Battles Solo at Vuelta

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Daniele Ratto defied torrential rain and cold temperatures to claim a magnificent solo victory on stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana as the general classification received a major shake-up.

The Italian Cannondale rider broke away with four other riders after just 3km of a day marred by abysmal weather and later forged clear on his own for the biggest win of his career.

Race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Chris Horner (RadioShack-Leopard) crossed the line in Andorra almost four minutes later in second and third respectively after dropping all of their rivals for overall victory on the climb to the summit finish on the category-one Collada de la Gallina.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) limited his losses to the pair to 16 seconds, but Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) shipped almost a minute after dropping behind earlier in the stage as he struggled in the treacherous conditions.

Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) fared even worse, losing more than seven minutes and, in the process, falling out of contention in the general classification after suffering badly from a combination of the cold and the difficult final climb.

The weather was so bad that Ivan Basso (Cannondale), who had been seventh in the general classification, and breakaway rider Luis Leon Sanchez (Belkin) were both forced to abandon the race through hypothermia, while Vacansoleil-DCM duo Lieuwe Westra and Wout Poels also failed finish.

The stage had promised to be one of the marquee days of the race, with an ascent of the especial-category Port de Envalira - the race's highest point at 2,410m - being followed by the Gallina, which was first of three consecutive Pyrenean summit finishes.

A high-pedigree, five-man breakaway containing Ratto, Sanchez and world champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) moved clear just after the starting flag and built up a sizeable lead, but their numbers were reduced to three when two men fell away on the lower slopes of the 26.7km climb of the huge Envalira.

Ratto, Sanchez and Gilbert ploughed on as a trio and stretched their lead to over 12 and a half minutes as they crested the summit, but then Ratto moved into sole lead by descending down the other side at a breakneck speed, despite the rain-soaked road surface.

Sanchez took fewer risks but still could not avoid crashing in the treacherous conditions and later abandoned the race as his health became a genuine concern.

Result of stage 14:

1. Daniele Ratto (Italy / Cannondale) 4:24:00"

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3:53"

3. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +3:55"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +4:11"

5. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +4:19"

6. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +4:43"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +4:46"

Overall standing after 14 stages:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 53:56:49"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +50"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:42"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:57"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +3:43"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo-Tinkoff) +4:06"

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