Vuelta a Espana 2018: Stage 9

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'Like Ventoux': Vuelta a Espana contenders braced for La Covatilla - Stage 9 Preview

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Stage 8: Valverde beats Sagan in uphill sprint

Podcast: Vuelta analysis, Aqua Blue fallout, Cavendish's future

Hola buenos dias! 

It's a big, big day at the Vuelta. Stage 9. La Covatilla. This is one of the hardest days of the whole race and certainly the most decisive stage so far. We've seen glimpses of who's going well and who's not, but this hors-catégorie summit finish in western Spain will see the picture become much clearer. It may still be the first week, but this is one of the major GC rendez-vous. Anticipation is building at the start in Talavera de la Reina - we'll have every inch of the stage covered right here.

Here's what's in store

While the final riders are signing on, complete your own pre-race preparations with a read of our stage 9 preview. Our Spanish correspondent Alasdair Fotheringham has spoken to a few people to see what might be in store, including Dan Martin, who was victorious the last time a Vuelta stage finished at La Covatilla in 2011. Somewhat ominously, he likens it to Mont Ventoux...

'Like Ventoux': Vuelta a Espana contenders braced for La Covatilla

And, for no other reason other than it's a cool pic, here's Martin climbing with Vincenzo Nibali back in 2011. Both are here again today, along with Bauke Mollema, who moved into the overall lead that day. 

It's almost time for the start!

This is how things stand overall, rather generously extended to include 25 riders...

1 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 31:20:34
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:37
3 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:48
4 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:51
5 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:59
6 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:01:06
7 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:11
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:01:14
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:18
10 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:23
11 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:26
12 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:01:27
13 Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:28
14 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:01:29
15 David De La Cruz (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:34
16 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:46
17 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:02:50
18 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:03:08
19 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:03:25
20 Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:56
21 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:28
22 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida 0:04:45
23 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:04:50
24 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team 0:05:07
25 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data 0:05:35

We're moving. The riders have rolled out of Talavera de la Reina and are currently making their way through the neutralised zone. 

The riders are currently bunched up behind the race director's car. There are some pulling alongside and even some nudging in front. Expect a big fight for the break today.

Here we go! Javier Guillen emerges from the sunroof...

We've gone through KM0 but Guillen hasn't waved it underway. Peter Sagan, we're hearing, has punctured...

I suppose you have to wait for the world champion

Sagan is in no hurry as he makes his way up through the cars

Sagan reaches the back of the pack. Here we go.

They're off!

As soon as Sagan clips on, the red car zooms off the front, and the race is underway.

First rider on the move, rather predictably, is Luis Angel Maté, who wears the blue and white spotted jersey as leader of the mountains classification. Plenty of points on offer today.

Thomas De Gendt is also up there. It's always a good sign if you find yourself in a break with him. (I obviously don't say that through experience but I imagine it to be the case).

Lots or riders keen to get involved here. 

Around 12 riders have a small gap over a strung-out peloton.

Another chase group of around 12 has been pegged back and the peloton continues full whack. 

The leading group with Maté is pulling away.

Mollema is in there, along with Teuns, Leezer, Hollenstein, Van Bilsen. Full list to come.

The peloton bunches up now. They seem content to let this breakaway go up the road. 

Here are the 11 escapees

Luis Angel Maté (Cofidis)

Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis)

Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo)

Dylan Teuns (BMC Racing)

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal)

Ben King (Dimension Data)

Reto Hollenstein (Katusha-Alpecin)

Tom Leezer (LottoNL-Jumbo)

Luis Mas (Caja Rural)

Aritz Bagues (Euskadi-Murias)

Jesus Ezquerra (Burgos-BH)

Toilet stops all round in the peloton as the break is allowed to head up the road. Two minutes is the gap and that will continue to grow.

After around 35km the road will start climbing. First up is the Puerto del Pico, a first-category ascent of 15.3km at 5.5%. 

Problem for the race leader Molard. He whips off his shoe and it looks like a cleat problem as he grabs a multi-tool and makes some adjustments. 

There are some interesting names in this break. Obviously Maté will be going all in for the KOM points and has a teammate with him in Van Bilsen. Mollema is a rider who can challenge for Grand Tour podiums but is stage hunting here, while Ben King has already won from the break at this Vuelta, on a summit finish no less. And then there's Thomas De Gendt and you don't need to say much more about him. Leezer and Hollenstein make it a decent WorldTour participation while Mas, Ezquerra, and Bagues make sure all the Spanish Pro Conti teams - and indeed, with Cofidis, all the wild card teams - are represented. 

From a GC perspective, King is the best-placed rider, and perhaps that's why the gap isn't yawning out (it's only 3:20 at the moment). The Dimension Data man is just 6:34 down on Molard. Next best-placed is Mollema at 12:48, while none of the others are within half an hour. 

Molard's FDJ teammates are in a line on the front of the bunch and the pace is pretty zippy. They're not chasing hard but they're putting a shift in, clearly unwilling to allow this breakaway much leeway. 

In case you missed yesterday's action (it is the weekend, after all), here's our stage 8 report, with all the usual results and photos etc. It was a snoozy day but an exciting finale, with Valverde beating Sagan in an uphill sprint. 

Vuelta a España: Valverde wins stage 8 in Almaden

The road is rising gently ahead of the official start of the Puerto del Pico. 

Crash at the back of the peloton. Loic Chetout (Cofidis) is on the deck in the gutter, while Mickael Cherel (AG2R is really banged up). 

Cherel is back on his feet, thankfully. His jersey is ripped to shreds but he swings his leg over his bike and gets going again. 

Cherel hangs onto the medical car as he gets his wounds patched up. 

Meanwhile FDJ continue their work at the head of the peloton. 

The breakaway riders are climbing and are currently negotiating the gentler gradients on the opening phase of the Puerto del Pico. 

157km remaining from 200km

On the lower slopes of the climb the gap has extended to 4:20. 

Have you listened to our latest podcast? 

It contains Vuelta analysis, along with discussion of Aqua Blue's demise and Mark Cavendish's uncertain future. Here's the link you need.

The 11 breakaway riders are all still together as they come into the final 3km of the the Puerto del Pico and the panoramic views get better and better. 

The gap back to the peloton has increased to 5:11. FDJ are still on the front, setting a modest tempo. 

Maté leads the break into the final kilometre of the climb. We can probably expect him to be sprinting in sight of the banner.

There goes Maté as the banner comes into view. It's not the most intense scrap but the Spaniard grabs maximum points to extend his KOM lead. Mollema and King were also up there.

The group split in two in sight of the line but they're about to join back up on the descent. 

144km remaining from 200km

It's only a very short descent before the road heads uphill again for the second climb of the day, the Cat-3 Alto de Gredos. 

A reminder of the stage profile

FDJ lead the peloton over the top of the Puerto del Pico, 5:23 in arrears.

The Alto de Gredos begins for the 11 leaders. It's 10.1km long but with a modest average gradient of 3.7%. 

KOM results at Puerto del Pico (km 52.3)

1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis), 10 pts
2. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) 6 pts
3. Ben King (Dimension Data) 4 pts
4. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), 2 pts
5. Lluis Mas (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), 1 pt

In terms of the provisional overall KOM standings, my calculations are as follows:

1 Luis Angel Maté (Cofidis) - 42 pts
2 Pierre Rolland (EF Education First-Drapac) - 20
3 Benjamin King (Dimension Data) - 16
4 Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) - 12   
5 Ben Gastauer (AG2R La Mondiale) - 7
 

Loic Chetout now gets some attention from the doctors. The back of his skinsuit is almost completely ripped, leaving his back exposed to the beaming sun. There's also some pretty bright road rash on his back and hip, which he's currently getting patched up properly. 

135km remaining from 200km

The situation remains stable on this second climb. The break are working well together and FDJ are still keeping a lid on things 5:25 behind. 

After this climb there's a Cat-2 ascent followed by a tricky descent and a long spell in the 'valley' - though the roads aren't exactly flat. Those roads should ensure that the movement from the GC contenders is reserved exclusively for the final climb to La Covatilla. 

Another shout, for those tuning in late, for our preview of today's big summit finish at La Covatilla. 

'Like Ventoux': Vuelta a Espana contenders braced for La Covatilla

We're heading for the crest of the Alto de Gredos, and another fight for KOM points. 

131km remaining from 200km

It's more hotly contested this time but it's the same three riders in the mix. Maté grabs the maximum once again, with a photo finish between Mollema and King for second place. 

KOM results at Alto de Gredos

1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis), 3 pts
2. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) 2 pts
3. Ben King (Dimension Data) 1 pts

The stil-FDJ-led peloton is still 5:25 behind the 11 leaders. 

After two hours of racing the average speed is 35.3km/h. 

Movistar in the peloton.

115km remaining from 200km

Time for the next climb! This is the third in this sort-of trio, and the last test ahead of the march to the foot of La Covatilla. 

Peña Negra

Category 2

13 kilometres

4.5%

The breakaway riders continue to stick together on this climb. They're aware of the roads that separate this from the final climb and realise that numbers is probably their greatest strength for the time being. 

Here's Molard stopping to fiddle with his cleats earlier

Sagan is dangling at the back of the peloton on this Cat-2 climb.

Antoine Duchesne takes over the pace-making for FDJ but it's pretty relaxed out there as he fetches some supplies from a musette. 

106km remaining from 200km

The gap extends slightly to the six-minute mark. 

Into the final 2km of the climb for the break and they've found another half a minute. 6:30 is the gap. 

As the clock nudges up, Ben King is inching closer to the virtual overall lead of the race...

And there it is. 6:36 now, and that means that if the stage were to finish now, King would be in red. 

Here comes the top of the climb...

De Gendt accelerates

102km remaining from 200km

De Gendt opens it up and Mate quickly responds. Weirdly, De Gendt looks round and waves him through, and Mate indeed gladly comes through for the points. As the descent begins, De Gendt comes up and pats Mate on the back. 

KOM result at Puerto de Peña Negra (km 98)

1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) 5pts
2. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) 3pts
3. Ben King (Dimension Data) 1pt

Mate therefore extends his lead in the mountains classification. Here's how it stands:

1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) 60 pts
2. Pierre Rolland (EF-Drapacl) 20pts
3. Ben King (Dimension Data) 18 pts

Long, fast descent now, and it looks like a fun one. 

92km remaining from 200km

A reminder of the profile

81km remaining from 200km

Just over 80km left now as the road tilts back uphill following that descent, which was negotiated safely by all. The gap between the break and peloton has extended again and now stands at 6:45.

The peloton come through the feed zone and that's going to knock a bit more pace out. 

'Put purely and simply, Sunday is crunch time for Colombia’s Miguel Angel López'

So writes Alasdair Fotheringham in this story on the Colombian. What can he do today? (Lopez that is - not Fotheringham)

72km remaining from 200km

Hope building for the break

The easing of the pace post-feed zone has allowed the gap to the break to stretch out to nearly 9 minutes. FDJ are still on the front but hardly exerting themselves at the moment. 

If the break does make it to the foot of La Covatilla, it'd be hard to bet against Bauke Mollema. He came close on stage 5 but this summit finish is a better chance for the Dutchman. Ben King has obviously already won a summit finish at this Vuelta and is clearly in great form. Thomas De Gendt has to be a contender, having won on the Stelvio in the Giro d'Italia and Mont Ventoux at the Tour de France.

Predictions please

Who's your pick for the stage win today? Let me know via Twitter @paddyfletch

55km remaining from 200km

55km to go and the gap isn't getting any smaller. FDJ are still on the front, and no other teams seem interested in helping them bring back this break. It's nearly up at 10 minutes now.

Puncture for Luis Mas in the break but the Caja Rural rider gets back in.

50km remaining from 200km

50 to go now and the gap is still up at 9:40. It's not a done deal yet but it's looking very good for the break. 

André Greipel has just won the opening stage at the Tour of Britain, beating Caleb Ewan - the rider who will replace him at Lotto Soudal next year. 

43km remaining from 200km

Movistar have now put a rider on the front of the peloton. Finally. That's the first time a non-FDJ rider has done some work. 

40km remaining from 200km

Duchesne is back on the front for FDJ, with most of the Movistar team tucked in behind. The gap isn't coming down, however - 9:45.

Ben King must now be starting to think about the possibility of the red jersey. He's currently 3:25 up, provisionally, on Molard, though Valverde - second overall at 37 seconds - might be the bigger threat. 

Movistar are on the front now but not bringing the gap down. The Spanish squad have the ability and strength in depth to dominate the final climb, and this could be an important day for Quintana. 

Another GC squad we should talk about is LottoNL-Jumbo. They shredded the bunch on the Puerto de Alfacar on stage 4, with youngster Sepp Kuss putting in a big turn. There were no attacks from George Bennett this day but will we see the black-and-yellow jerseys imposing themselves again today? 

As I write that, Team Sky punch their way through to the head of the bunch. One of the big questions at this Vuelta so far is whether or not Kwiatkowski can be considered a genuine GC contender. Today should provide an answer. 

Team Sky's emergence sees the gap to the break start to fall. 8:50 is the latest check. 

30km remaining from 200km

De Gendt attacks!

The Belgian senses the moment and accelerates hard on an uphill kick

King is straight on it. Mollema, too. Teuns, Ezquerra, and Mas all make their way across. 

De Gendt perhaps knew he had to do something. Sky are really upping the tempo in the peloton and the gap is now just 7:45. 

Hollenstein now drags himself across to make it six out front. 

Movistar have taken over from Sky and the charge continues. 

The peloton has finally woken up. King surely won't be in red at the end of the day. It's far from certain the break will contest stage honours. 

26km remaining from 200km

A reminder of the stage profile. The final climb to La Covatilla officially begins with 9.8km to go, but as you can see the road starts rising well before that. 

Alasdair Fotheringham, who has driven the final climb up to the press room, informs us that there's a big pinchpoint coming with 20km to go, so in a few km's time. And it's steep there, too. A bit later there's a sketchy descent ahead of the final climb. 

The approach here is actually a little different to when la Covatilla last featured in 2011. More details - plus insight from Dan Martin and others - in our stage preview. 

'Like Ventoux': Vuelta a Espana contenders braced for La Covatilla

Bauke Mollema, incidentally, finished second behind Dan Martin on that day in 2011, and took the red jersey from Joaquim Rodriguez. More happy memories in store at La Covatilla for the Dutchman?

There's talk of a headwind on the latter part of the climb, which is exposed. If so, that could deter attacks. 

De Gendt accelerates again and Hollenstein struggles.

The six leaders are back together as the road gets really steep.

Team Sky are back on the front as the gap comes down to 7 minutes.

Mate has made his way across to the six leaders. 

Luis Mas attacks from the break now as the pace eases. King sets off in pursuit.

De Gendt leads the rest, refusing to panic for the moment. 

18km remaining from 200km

King and Mas hit some cobbled streets as the road rises through a small village. This is the pinch point I mentioned. The streets are very narrow. 

King drops Mas.

Fans step out from their front doors to cheer the riders on. These roads are ridiculously narrow and steep.

This is all good for the break, but it's going to be a tricky one for the peloton. Teams will want to be well positioned. 

King comes out of the town centre and back onto the smooth tarmac and wider roads. He must be feeling strong today to go solo from this far out. Still 7km to go until the official start of the climb.

Astana hit the front of the peloton now.

A reminder of the overall standings ahead of this big showdown

1 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 31:20:34
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:37
3 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:48
4 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:51
5 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:59
6 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:01:06
7 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:11
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:01:14
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:18
10 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:23
11 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:26
12 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:01:27
13 Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:28
14 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:01:29
15 David De La Cruz (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:34
16 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:46
17 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:02:50
18 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:03:08
19 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:03:25
20 Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:56
21 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:28
22 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida 0:04:45
23 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:04:50
24 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team 0:05:07
25 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data 0:05:35

Astana lead the peloton onto those cobbled, narrow, steep streets.

It's pretty much two abreast here as Astana continue on the front. 

Kwiatkowski is well-positioned in third-wheel, but without any teammates in the immediate vicinity. 

13km remaining from 200km

King is still solo on the approach to the climb, with just 3km to go. The peloton is 6:10 in arrears.

Mas has been caught so we have six riders - De Gendt, Mollema, Teuns, Mas, Mate, Hollenstein - in pursuit of King.

King nearly misjudges another tricky corner as the road ducks downhill. 

King has found 1:10 on his breakaway companions!

De Gendt drifts off the back of the chase group but he's getting back in now.

King continues to extend his lead. 1:25 now. He gets a bottle from his team car. He could get a fine for that given it's in the last 15km but that will matter little if it helps him win the stage. 

In the peloton Sivakov slides out on one of those tricky corners. 

9km remaining from 200km

The climb to La Covatilla begins for King

Luis Mas accelerates from the chase group behind. 

Team Sky take over from Astana once again. It's Castroviejo, with Kwiatkowski sitting second wheel. 

Mollema has taken up the chase, dropping Mas. 

Mollema's head is bobbing, while up the road King has his arms folded over his bars, treating this HC climb like a TT. 1:20 is the gap as Mollema starts to peg him back.

The early kilometres are the easiest, and that explains King's position. He won't be able to do that when it hits double digits. 

Here's how the climb looks on paper

7km remaining from 200km

This is looking good for Mollema. He has reduced the gap to 1:05. 

King is grimacing. Going that early was always going to be a risk. It could pay off handsomely, but could also backfire. 

The peloton begin to climb now. They're 5:49 down on King at the front of the race.

Bora appear at the head of the peloton. Buchmann is third overall, 48 seconds down on Molard and 11 seconds down on Valverde. He has Rafal Majka setting things up for him at the moment.

King starts weaving on the double-digit gradients. This is a much tougher ascent than Alfacar on stage 4. 

6km remaining from 200km

Mollema is bobbing all over the place, sweat dripping from his face. He looks more uncomfortable than King but he's still drawing closer. 50 seconds now, with 6.1 to go.

The GC men are sitting tight in the peloton on the gentle lower slopes.

King is in trouble now. His head is waving from side to side and his face contorted into a permanent grimace. He weaves across the road before steadying himself again.

It's clear that King is nearing the end of resources but has he timed it perfectly? He gambled by going early but gave himself a headstart of 1:30. At the moment, it looks like it might leave him just short. 

Molard dropped

His FDJ teammates have been on the front all day but Molard loses contact now and it looks like he'll be handing over that red jersey at the end of the day. Pinot is still in contention for FDJ.

Zakarin dropped again too.

Still it's Majka on the front of the peloton as it thins out, with compatriot Kwiatkowski lurking behind.

5km remaining from 200km

5km to the summit for King and still Mollema closes. 30 seconds is the gap now.

Molard has lost 35 seconds so far. 

The peloton is now becoming more of a 'GC group' as Majka's work continues to enforce a natural selection.

4km remaining from 200km

King digs in. He hasn't lost any time in the last 0.7km.

Simon Yates is moving up towards the front of the GC group, being guided by Haig. For LottoNL Kuss is there again for Bennett.

Quick-Step's young Spaniard Enric Mas is dropped now, too.

Around 25 riders left in the GC group.

3km remaining from 200km

Up front the pursuit continues, and this is a nail-biter!

3.7 to go and it's down to 21 seconds.

Here's the finale. It gets easier towards the end, which will help King...

No attacks just yet from the GC men.

Molard is drifting all the time and is now 1:15 down on the GC contenders.

Majka pulls over. Huge turn from the Pole. WIll we see attacks now?

2km remaining from 200km

The roads are exposed up near the top of La Covatilla. King is digging in and holding Mollema at 19 seconds. 

Mollema is running out of ground here and needs to close those last seconds sooner rather than later. 

20 left in the GC group. 

The road very much flattens out now with just over 2km to go and King may believe once more. He even finds a few more seconds! 20 now!

Kuss hits the front of the GC group now. What a prospect he is.

2km remaining from 200km

Last 2000 metres for King. It looks like he's on his way to a second stage win! Extraordinary stuff.

Mollema's still bobbing but can't bring the gap back under 20 seconds. It looks like another second place for the Dutchman. 

1km remaining from 200km

King looks behind and sees Mollema. It's still in the balance but these gentler gradients are seeing the metres tick by a little quicker.

1km remaining from 200km

Mollema sprints out of the saddle, giving it one last roll of the dice.

Kuss dances on the pedals out of the saddle. Bennett is tucked in behind. No attacks yet...

King is in a world of pain, but he's heading towards the final kilometre and that banner should give him a second wind.

You can almost feel the heaviness of Mollema's legs as you watch him pedal. 

1km remaining from 200km

30 seconds now for King as he enters the final kilometre!

King is going to take his second stage win, that looks certain now.

King reaches 500m to go and looks behind. He surely knows he has this now but these final metres must feel endless still

King shakes his head - almost in disbelief. He knows he has this. 

King comes into the final 200 metres

King is shaking his head all the way to the line

One last burst out of the saddle takes him to the line, and he raises his arms in celebration

Ben King (Dimension Data) wins stage 9 of the Vuelta a España

We turn out attention back down the mountain as Quintana attacks!

It's a short-lived acceleration, with Ion Izaguirre tracking it.

A defeated Mollema crosses the line 45 seconds down.

Attack from Kelderman!

Quintana is on Kelderman's wheel as the GC group explodes!

Uran, Lopez and Izaguirre make their way up to Kelderman and Quintana. 

This group of five is gaining time on the rest of the field.

Yates is coming over in pursuit. Bennett not far behind. Pinot leading another group a bit further back.

Lopez sprints, finishing with Kelderman and Quintana. Izaguirre a little behind with Uran. 

Valverde loses several seconds. Aru plenty more. 

Kwiatkowski is going to slip down the standings.

It looks like Simon Yates has done enough to take the overall lead.

Stage 9 result

1 Benjamin King (USA) Dimension Data 05:30:38
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 05:31:26
3 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team 05:33:16
4 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 05:33:18
5 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 05:33:18
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 05:33:18
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 05:33:21
8 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 05:33:24
9 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 05:33:27
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 05:33:40

General Classification after stage 9

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 36:54:52
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 36:54:53
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 36:55:06
4 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 36:55:08
5 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 36:55:09
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 36:55:16
7 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 36:55:19
8 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 36:55:24
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 36:55:35
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 36:55:40

King speaks

"To get one stage win was a dream come true. I made winning a Grand Tour stage a major career goal, so today was really nice to show that first one wasn’t a random thing.

"I’ve never suffered that much in my entire life, I’m still a little foggy in my mind, but I’m sure it will sink in soon what an accomplishment this is."

Here's our report page, with results and photos

Vuelta a Espana: King conquers La Covatilla