Horner Reclaims Red Vuelta Jersey

La Vuelta

Chris Horner reclaimed the leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a España after winning stage 10 on Monday with an impressive late charge on the final climb in Granada.

The American, who also led the Vuelta after winning stage three, broke away from a talent-packed group that included Vincenzo Nibali,Ivan Basso and Joaquin Rodriguezwith around five kilometres to go and none of his rivals could reel him back in.

Horner (RadioShack-Leopard) finished the 168km ride from Torredelcampo to Alto Hazallanas - the first mountain stage of this year's Vuelta - in a time of four hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds.

Italian Nibali, the 2010 Vuelta winner and 2013 Giro d'Italia champion, tried to chase down Horner but he could only finish 48 seconds back in second spot, with Valderde third a further 14 seconds adrift.

Basso, Rodriguez and Thibaut Pinot completed the top six places, all three with the same time as Valverde. Ireland's Nicolas Roche crossed the line in seventh, one minute and 10 seconds behind Horner,

Spaniard Daniel Moreno, who took the red jersey with his victory on Sunday, finished 12th, two minutes and 21 seconds adrift of Horner, and that saw him lose first place in the general classifications to the 41-year-old American.

Horner now boasts a 43-second lead over nearest challenger Nibali (Astana), with Roche in third spot 10 seconds back. Spanish trio Valverde, Rodriguez and Moreno occupy the next three spots.

Tuesday is a rest day.

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Roche Leads as Cousin Leaves Vuelta

La Vuelta

Nicholas Roche has taken the overall lead in the Vuelta España after finishing third in the eighth stage.

The Irishman, riding for Saxo-Tinkoff, started eight seconds behind Vincenzo Nibali but rode away from the Italian, who is now fourth, on the final climb.

Czech Leopold Konig held off a late surge from Spaniard Daniel Moreno to win the race to Estepona in Andalucia.

Birmingham-born Irishman Dan Martin withdrew from the Vuelta on Saturday morning after crashing on stage seven.

Martin, the Garmin-Sharp team leader, was suffering from concussion after suffering a blow to the head on Friday and tweeted: "I hit a hole or rock in the road. Down I went.

"Nothing broken, but the most painful crash [I've] ever had. Sad to leave the Vuelta but can't race with these birds flying round my head."

Konig, who rides for the fledgling NetApp Endura team, sped away from the race favourites in the final 5km of the 14.5km-long category one climb to the finish.

Katusha's Moreno led the chase and almost paced his ascent to perfection but finished one second back to move up to third overall.

Roche, the son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen, led a group of four riders over the line, five seconds after Konig and with the assistance of a time bonus for finishing third, took the race lead by 17 seconds.

American Chris Horner finished 23 seconds behind Konig, and alongside Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran, but retained second place as he was four seconds clear of Nibali, who had led by three seconds overnight.

Spanish contenders Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez finished together, 19 seconds behind the stage winner, but they were eight seconds ahead of Nibali, to reduce their deficit to the Italian to 13 seconds.

Sunday's ninth stage is a 163.7km race from Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen.

Result of stage eight

1. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) 4:09:46"

2. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +1"

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

4. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr)

5. Ivan Basso (Italy / Cannondale)

6. Bart De Clercq (Belgium / Lotto)

7. Igor Anton (Spain / Euskaltel) +13"

8. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +19"

9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

10. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +23"

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

12. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff)

13. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

14. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack)

15. Sergio Henao (Colombia / Team Sky) +27"

16. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana)

Overall standings after eight stages

1. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) 31:39:30"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +17"

3. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha)

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +18"

5. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +29"

6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack) +30"

7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +31"

8. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +42"

9. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +52"

10. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:03"

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