The Giant-Shimano rider escaped a pile-up inside the final kilometre to power to the line ahead of Belgian Tom Boonen and Italy's Jacopo Guarnieri to record his eighth career-stage win on the Vuelta.

Today's 116km took the riders around eight leaps of Logrono and saw Austria's Matthias Krizek launch the sole break away, but, despite building up a lead of nearly eight minutes, the Cannondale man was reeled in with 12km to go.

Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo team took over the pace-setting at the front of the pack but a crash curtailed the general classification teams, which allowed Degenkolb to take advantage of the confusion.

Led out by team mate Ramon Sinkeldam, the German launched his final assault for the line with 150 metres to go to repeat his stage win in Logrono from 2012.

With his main rivals for the green jersey, Nacer Bouhanni of France and Australian Michael Matthews, unable to contest the sprint due to the crash, Degenkolb remains top of the points classicisation.

"I feel great, I was hoping to win but I wasn't overconfident," said 25-year-old Degenkolb.

"I pushed for the sprint at the right time which was fundamental.

"The whole team did a great job."

John Degenkolb celebrates his third stage win on this year's Vuelta a España in Logrono ©AFP/Getty Images



Race leader Contador and the main peloton were awarded the same time as the stage winner as the crash happened inside the final 3km.

The Spaniard remains 24 seconds clear of compatriot and Movistar rider Alejandro Valverde with Colombian Rigoberto Uran still 1min 08sec back in third and Britain Chris Froome 12 seconds further adrift in fourth.

Joachim Rodriguez completes a trio of home riders in the top five on general classification.

Tomorrow's 188.7km stage takes the riders from Belorado to Obregon and contains three categorised climbs.

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