Yates tightens his grip on red jersey

BRITAIN’S Simon Yates extended his La Vuelta lead with a strong showing in yesterday’s individual time trial on stage 16.

Australia’s Rohan Dennis won the 32km race from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega in 37 minutes 57 seconds – 50 seconds clear of his BMC Racing team-mate Joseph Rosskopf of the United States.

Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) finished 13th, 1min 28secs behind Dennis, but crucially ahead of all bar two of his rivals for the general classification.

Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk of LottoNL-Jumbo stormed home in fourth, 37secs ahead of Yates, and Spain’s Enric Mas (QuickStepFloors) was sixth, 25secs ahead of the Briton.

But Spain’s Alejandro Valverde and Colombia’s Nairo Quintana (both Movistar) conceded seven and 42secs to Yates, respectively.

The 26-year-old Bury rider, not renowned for his talent against the clock, has a strong cushion with four days of racing remaining ahead of Sunday’s processional stage in the Spanish capital.

“I’m happy with my performance. I extended my lead so as far as I’m concerned it was a very good ride,” Yatessaid.“Butwehavealong way to go. I’m wary of the coming stages. It’s still a long road to Madrid. I’m expecting some hard days. Our rivals are still very close.”

Yates now leads from Valverde by 33secs, with Kruijswijk, who had begun the day 1:29 behind, now third, 52secs adrift. Quintana dropped to fourth, 1:15 behind.

Yates can expect his advantage to come under attack in today’s hilly 17th stage, the 157km route to the Balcon de Bizkaia in the Basque Country.