Simon Yates just ahead of Valverde new Vuelta leader

On Sunday, 26-year-old Simon Yates replaced Frenchman Rudy Molard on the 9th section from Talavera de la Reina to Alto de la Covatilla. Yates leads Spaniard Alejandro Valverde by just one second before the first rest day. Third is his Colombian Movistar teammate Nairo Quintana.

As in the fourth section, Benjamin King (Dimension Data) secured the day's victory. The American and ten fellow breakaways were left far behind by Molard and the overall contenders around Yates over the course of the 200 km section. Since there was later disagreement about the necessary follow-up work, the escape group made it safely to the long final climb. On the way to the mountain finish at around 2.000 m above sea level, King finally prevailed 48 seconds ahead of the Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek). But it wasn't enough for the duo to take over the leadership jersey.

This was secured by Yates, who was almost two weeks ahead at the Giro d'Italia in May. Ninth place was enough for the Mitchelton professional, more than two and a half minutes behind King, to keep Valverde (11th) and Quintana (5th) just a distance away. Quintana is only 14 seconds behind Yates, 16 seconds behind fourth-placed German Emanuel Buchmann (Bora). The previous leader Molard lost a lot of time in the lead jersey on the fifth day and slipped out of the top 15.

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Simon Yates just ahead of Valverde new Vuelta leader

Briton Simon Yates wears the lead jersey after the first major mountain stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

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