Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 7 of the 2015 Vuelta a España. The 191.1 kilometre route from Jódar to La Alpujarra culminates with the race's first proper mountaintop finish at the Alto de Capileira.
Good morning/afternoon/evening (delete as appropriate, depending on where you are in the world). Today is a big day on the 2015 Vuelta a España – we have our first summit finish of the race. Admittedly, we’ve already had short, punchy finishing climbs but today’s stage culminates with a first proper mountaintop finish on the first-category Alto de Capileira. It's sure to force the GC men to show their hands.
We're with you for the entirety of today's stage. The riders are currently rolling through the neutral zone in Jódar and the race proper is set to begin in 5-10 minutes' time.
Here's what's on the menu
Here's how the General Classification looks after six stages
And they're off! The flag has dropped and the stage has begun. There are 189 riders out there, so no abandons after stage 6.
Vasil Kiriyenka (Sky) and Gediminas Bagdonas (Ag2r) provide more proof that crashes can and do still happen in the neutralised zone. It doesn't appear that either has been affected in any way by the tumble.
A climb in two parts, with constant switchbacks, dusty roads and blazing sunshine
The early kilometres have been fast and without luck for breakaway hopefuls but now we have a group of seven looking to move clear. Will they be able to establish a lead?
Four more riders bridge across to the original seven and a group of 11 has now formed. We'll wait and see if the peloton is happy with its make-up and content to let them off the leash.
Nope, Movistar were having none of that. All together and back to square one.
179km remaining from 191km
This looks very much like our break of the day. The quintet has an ever-growing lead of over two minutes on the bunch behind after 16 kilometres of racing.
The breakaway now has a lead of 4:20, and that's only going to increase. It doesn't look like we'll have anyone bridging across now so it's these five in it for the long haul.
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It's another baking day in the Andalucían furnace under the midday sun. The breakaway riders are sweating out front but the riders in the bunch are quite happy to take it easy for now, with the gap pushing towards the seven-minute mark.
Over eight minutes the gap now. Jérôme Cousin is the best-placed of the breakaway men GC-wise, 14:06 in arrears. No real cause for concern yet for Orica-GreenEdge, who are protecting the red leader's jersey on the shoulders of Esteban Chaves.
The riders are taking on the first real incline of the day. There are undulating roads up ahead en route to the first categorised climb of the day, the third-cat Puerto de Blancares, which crests just before the half-way point.
Trek Factory Racing have been busy in the transfer market. Their latest acquisition is Peter Stetina (BMC), who has had a difficult season with injury. Read the full story using the link below.
153km remaining from 191km
The riders covered a total of 38.1 kilometres in the first hour of racing.
As the breakaway's lead goes out to over nine minutes, the peloton are in for a relatively relaxed ride to the foot of the final climb of the day - the Alto de Capileira. It has never featured before in the Vuelta and is found in a pocket of the Sierra Nevada - Las Alpujarras - rarely visited by the race. Has anyone out there ever been to this part of Spain? Or ridden it by bike even? If so, get in touch and tell us what it's like - find me on Twitter @paddyfletch
“I am not only a body nor only a mind. The mind is part of the body. And the body thinks...”
Marcel Aregger (IAM) drops back to the medical car for some attention but it's a lazy day out there for the most part. The five riders out front have a lead of nearly 10 minutes now.
Things have eased again in the bunch, with the gap now going out further over 10 minutes. The break would obviously need a substantial lead going onto the final climb if they are to contest for stage honours, but the relaxed attitude of the bunch is a positive for them at this point.
Still over 100km remaining in the stage, 118 to be exact, with the peloton willing to let the break push their advantage out to 10:37.
Still no sign from Orica GreenEdge on the front despite the fact that they hold the leader's jersey. They're still willing to led the break move further ahead.
The break are now climbing the first ascent of the stage, the puerto de los Blancares, a third category climb.
Txurruka, who moves to Orica GreenEdge in 2016, is first over the top of the climb. The gap back to the peloton is at 10:37.
The gap goes out to over 12 minutes! The riders are still on a lengthy downhill stretch
Chris Froome has been quiet so far in the Vuelta but today's final climb should force him out of his shell to show us what kind of shape he's in. Here's what Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford had to say on his charges.
The temperature has been rising all day and it has now pushed above 35 degrees Celsius as the riders head towards Granada. 13 minutes for the break now with the bunch showing no signs of forming a dedicated chase.
Dan Martin signs for Etixx-QuickStep
Tom Dumoulin seeks the services of the medical car - not entirely sure what the issue is. The Dutchman is second on GC, 10 seconds behind Chaves.
The riders are passing through Granada, an amazing city where Spain's Moorish heritage looms large. Small cobbled lanes lined with Arabian tea houses are juxtaposed with modern streets and Christian churches, with the famous Alhambra palace an imposing presence on the hillside.
The road now starts to rise gently once again as the riders turn south and skirt around the Western edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The gap currently stands at 13:10.
What do you make of Dan Martin's move to Etixx-QuickStep? Will it allow him to fulfil his potential - be it in Grand Tours or one-day races? Let us know your thoughts via Twitter @paddyfletch
Astana start to take a share of the workload now and the leaders see a minute shaved off their advantage.
Speaking of Astana, here's what manager Giuseppe Martinelli had to say about the team's chances and the two GC riders they have left in the race.
57km remaining from 191km
The front of the peloton resembles a single-file string of riders, with a lone Astana man on the front and five Sky riders right behind. Lots are taking on food and drink but they are pushing on nonetheless and they are less than 10 minutes away from the five leaders.
According to the Katusha Twitter account, the road at the very top of the final climb has been resurfaced and is no longer a dirt track.
40km remaining from 191km
Movistar do their bit now and hit the front of the peloton. The gap is falling, but slowly. 9:45 at the moment.
As you can see from that stage profile, the final climb officially starts after 172.4 kilometres. That would make it 18.7km long but the road actually rises for a few kilometres before that. It's a long one.
The gap drops under nine minutes. It's falling, with Movistar on the front, but it's hardly tumbling. The breakaway has a real chance here.
Bert-Jan Lindeman sweeps up the points and the 100 or so Euros on offer at the intermediate sprint.
The leaders come through the town of Lanjaón, with sheets of fabric overhead shielding the narrow streets from the blazing Andalucían sun. It's pushing 40 degrees out there - as Peter Sagan said yesterday, you go back to the team car for water and you come back with tea.
Most of the GC riders and teams have been more than content to save themselves for most of the day but Movistar are showing a real interest here. The gap is nearly down at seven minutes.
Katusha join Movistar on the front. They have a couple of cards to play in Joaquim Rodríguez and Dani Moreno.
The leaders enjoy one final stretch of downhill before the pain commences and the road kicks up for the final climb to the Alto de Capileira.
In case you've missed it, we have a piece of essential reading from Alasdair Fotheringham on the Alto de Capileira. The climb is making its debut in the Vuelta and Alasdair gives the lowdown on what to expect.
19km remaining from 191km
The road starts to kick up too for the peloton now as the quintet up ahead start the final climb proper. The gap is under 5:30.
A reminder of what we're dealing with here:
Movistar still driving things in the peloton as the gap falls below five minutes. Alejandro Valverde is very familiar with this part of the world, having often used the Sierra Nevada as a training base.
Predictions please
The breakaway riders are still together and cooperating but Movistar are really drilling this back in the peloton. It had looked very promising for the break but now it's increasingly touch-and-go. The gap is down at 4 minutes.
12km remaining from 191km
The pace on the front of the bunch has knocked off slightly but now Astana come to the front to rectify that. Crucial kilometres for the break's chances.
Txurruka is awarded the combativity award for the day. He'd probably be the favourite for the stage win should the peloton be kept at bay.
The peloton is currently on the flat section of this climb, traversing around the side of the mountain before the road kicks up again for the steeper sections of the latter portion of the Alto de Capileira.
The road starts to rise again up towards the clusters of whitewashed buildings that make up these mountain villages. There are hairpins aplenty now.
As the gradients become more severe, things start to fray in the lead group. Cousin looks freshest and is kicking on, while Lindeman looks to be in some trouble.
6km remaining from 191km
Astana are showing a real interest here. They're stepping on it and the gap is now under 2:30. Still touch and go.
Cousin is pegged back but his move seems to have done enough to dislodge Quintero.
Dario Cataldo swings off and almost comes to a standstill as Luis León Sánchez takes it up for Astana. Froome is a few places back with a look of concentration on his face.
Koshevoy attacks from the break now but his move is closed down.
Koshevoy goes again, and Cousin and Txurruka look at each other, neither willing to chase for now.
One Astana man still on the front of the bunch. It has thinned considerably but there have been no fireworks as yet among the overall favourites. Chaves is safely in there and looks comfortable.
Cousin bridges over to Koshevoy.
2km remaining from 191km
Lindeman manages to get back up to the two leaders, who are showing signs of fatigue.
Tinkoff-Saxo hit the front now while the leaders up ahead hit the steepest part of the climb, with gradients of 14%.
1km remaining from 191km
Lindeman gets up to Cousin and they have 1:25 going under the flame rouge. It's looking good for one of them.
Dan Martin attacks the bunch.
Chris Froome has been dropped!
Aru attacks now from the bunch. Froome in real trouble out the back.
Koshevoy joins the leaders once more and the trio has just under a minute going into the final 600 metres.
Searing injection of pace from Aru! He's alone off the front of the bunch.
Chaves, Valverde and Meintjes leads the bunch in pursuit of Aru.
Lindeman strikes out for stage glory! And he takes it!
Aru passes Cousin and comes across the line, followed a few seconds back by Rafal Majka and the rest of the bunch.
Froome crosses the line now but he has lost about half a minute on Aru.
Chaves finished safely with the group seven seconds behind Aru to hold onto his red jersey.
Koshevoy was second there, with Aru taking third on the day and with it four bonus seconds.
The reason for Aru taking third was that Cousin was halted by a motorbike, who seemed to touch his back wheel in the final couple of hundred metres, going by the replays. That's gutting for the Frenchman as he could have been in contention for the stage win.
Here's the top 10 on the stage:
Here's how the GC now looks:
Here's what Bert-Jan Lindeman had to say after the stage:
Froome now sits 1:22 back on Chaves on GC. Another big loser was Tejay van Garderen who was one and a half minutes down on the stage winner today.
How good did Aru look today? That seems to have sorted the Astana leadership issue. Not a huge time gain for the Italian but a statement of intent nonetheless.
Here's our stage report for you. A full report with a full photo gallery is on the way too.
Here's what Mikel Landa had to say after the stage and after the attack of his teammate Fabio Aru:
Rafal Majka was the man who tried to chase down Aru. Here's his take on the day:
Esteban Chaves kept hold of his race lead. Here's his reaction:
That's it for our live coverage today. Make sure you keep and eye on Cyclingnews.com for all the latest coming in from Spain. We'll leave you with this cracking shot of Lindeman celebrating his victory. Thanks for joining and see you again tomorrow for more of the same.
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