The Lampre-Merida rider broke free from a larger break 20 kilometres from the line during the 185km trek from Carboneras de Guadazaón and was joined by Luxembourg's Bob Jungels and Spaniard Javier Moreno.

The Colombian had designs on taking over the leader's red jersey himself as the main contenders were well behind.

Anacona continued his relentless push up the final climb and soon found himself out on his own as Jungels and Moreno faded as the possibility of leading the Vuelta loomed large.

But two kilometres out Spain's Alberto Contador launched an attack from the main group and he was quickly followed by Quintana and Spain's Joaquim Rodríguez.

The other main general classification contenders, Britain's Chris Froome and overnight leader Valverde could not match the late surge and consequently lost 23 seconds on the new leader Quintana.

Quintana and Rodríguez managed Tinkoff-Saxo's Contador with all three finishing on the same time.

That late surge meant that Anacona's hopes of topping the standings were over but he still crossed the line 45 seconds clear of the chasing pack led by Kazakhstan's Alexey Lutsenko and Italian Damiano Cunego.

Moreno eventually crossed the line fourth with compatriot Pello Bilbao completing the top five.

Colombian Nairo Quintana matched Spani's Alberto Contador's break to take over possession of the leader's red jersey ©AFP/Getty Images



"I've had some great wins, but this one is special," said Anacona, whose efforts have him now sitting in fourth place overall.

"I've never won a Grand-Tour stage before, and I had some tears in my eyes when I was crossing the line."

Contador's late surge leaves him three seconds behind new leader Quintana on general classification, with Valverde in third, a further five seconds back.

Team Sky's Chris Froome is fifth, 28 seconds off the leader.

"In the final I didn't have the legs to follow the top guys when they went," said Froome, who despite losing time on today's stage, remains confident going into the second week of the race.

"But I think given where I have come from on the back of the Tour [de France] and the build-up into the race, I'm really happy with how things have gone so far.

"I can definitely feel I'm starting to pick up that race rhythm back into my legs and I'm looking forward to the second half of this race."

Tomorrow is the first rest day on this year's Vuelta before riders take on the 34km individual time trial from Real Monasterio de Santa Maria de Veruela to Borja.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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