Stage 8 Results:
1) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) - Quick - Step Floors
2) Jan Polanc (SLO) - UAE Team Emirates
3) Rafal Majka (POL) - BORA -Hansgrohe
4) Serge Pauwels (BEL) - Dimension Data
5) Nelson Oliveira (POR) - Movistar Team
GC Standings after Stage 8:
1) Chris Froome (GBR) - Team Sky | 32:26:13
2) Esteban Chaves (COL) - ORICA - Scott | + 0:00:28
3) Nicolas Roche (IRL) - BMC Racing Team | + 0:00:41
4) Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) - Bahrain - Merida | + 0:00:53
5) Tejay Van Garderen (USA) - BMC Racing Team | + 0:00:58
Julian Alaphilippe rode a great race to marginally pip Jan Polanc of UAE Team Emirates and, the previously ill, Rafal Majka of BORA. Chris Froome attacked on the final climb and descended well to gain 17 extra seconds on the current main red-jersey rival of Esteban Chaves.
It was another impressive victory for a Quick - Step Floors rider at today's stage of La Vuelta in Xorret de Catí. In the race for the red-jersey, Froome extended his lead over most of the other GC men, with the only exception being Alberto Contador who stuck with the Team Sky man and beat him in a final sprint to the line.
Alaphilippe and Polanc Majka had battled it out on the gruelling final climb, which featured a 24% incline, and had made it to the summit alone. However, brilliant descending from the Slovenian Jan Polanc allowed him to catch up with the duo, and in a final sprint Alaphilippe breezed home followed by Polanc and Majka, who had been suffering from an illness over the past couple of days, came in 3rd.
Chris Froome's lead of now 28 seconds signifies a huge dominance, and many would assume it is now his La Vuelta to lose now.
Keep posted for more stage reports!