Froome’s on the up

ADAM BLYTHE finished third in a windy second stage of the Vuelta a espana, as fellow Briton Chris Froome improved his overall standing after Saturday’s team time trial.

Blythe crossed the line at the end of the 203.4km stage from nimes to Gruissan just behind Quick- Step Floors duo yves Lampaert and Matteo Trentin, with Team Sky’s Froome eight seconds off the pace in 16th.

Froome, who hopes to become the third man to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same year, rose to ninth overall, 21sec behind leader Lampaert, while Sheffield-born Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) is a further 18sec back in 30th.