Sergey Lagutin of Russian Federation won the 181.5-kilometer (113-mile) stage from Villalpando finishing at the category-one La Camperona summit in just over four hours.
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“We have achieved our principal objective which was to get the leader’s jersey and take some seconds off our rivals”, said Quintana, who disappointed despite finishing third at the Tour de France.
Three-time victor Alberto Contador finished 13th in the stage and is seventh overall.
The Colombian finished 12th in the stage but took first place overall, leading Spaniard Alejandro Valverde by 19 seconds with Tour de France victor Froome a further eight behind in third.
Colombia’s Darwin Apatuma, the red jersey wearer heading into the stage, proved unable to hold on as Quintana, Britain’s Chris Froome and the Spanish duo of Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde increased the pace in the closing kilometres.
“Everyone was cautious at the start of the climb, but then Froome went for it, as we expected, and I responded”, Quintana said.
Contador’s late surge one day after crashing badly in the chaotic finale to stage 7 saw the Spanish triple champion zip past Froome and steal back some lost time to his big rival.
Colombia’s Esteban Chaves is the only other man within a minute of the general classification leader, as he lies 57 seconds behind his countryman Quintana.
“Alberto did great, especially after yesterday’s crash”.
Lagutin was a member of an early breakaway of 11 riders who opened up a 10-minute gap over the mostly flat stage that ended in a final 8.5-kilometer (5-mile) ascent. It was the Katusha rider’s first major win.
Koenig said he was confident that Froome would come good on the longer climbs and would overhaul Quintana there. “I’m 35 years old and at some point I thought that it was probably it but I still hoped that it was for me”. “I was dreaming since I was little to win a stage of a Grand Tour like the Vuelta”.
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Tomorrow will see the peloton tackle a 164km medium mountain stage from Cistierna to Alto del Naranco.
