The Scotsman

De Marchi defies rain to take win as Yates keeps red

- By JEAN LAFOND

Italy’s Alessandro De Marchi powered through tricky conditions to win stage 11 of La Vuelta as Britain’s Simon Yates clung on to the overall lead.

Bmcriderde­marchiopen­ed up a gap on the final uphill section of the 207.8km route from Mombuey to Luintra and comfortabl­y held on for a commanding 28-second victory. Colombian Jhonatan Restrepo (Katusha Alpecin) emerged through the rain clouds to finish second, while Italian Franco Pellizotti (Bahrain-merida) was a further 31 seconds behind in third.

Yates, in the red jersey, won this stage last year but could only manage to claim 16th place as he finished two minutes and two seconds off the pace among the main pack.

However, the Mitchelton­scott rider’s closest rivals – Movistar team-mates Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana – also finished in that group.

Spaniard Valverde remains just one second behind Yates in the general classifica­tion, while Colombian Quintana is 14 seconds adrift.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot had threatened to wrest the advantage away from 26-yearold Yates in north-west Spain, riding half of the race in the virtual overall lead.

But the Groupama-fdj rider, who began the day in 16th position, two minutes and 33 seconds off the lead, fell away and managed to take only 13 seconds off that deficit.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Andre Greipel was victorious in Royal Leamington Spa as the Tour of Britain’s fourth stage ended in a sprint.

The Lotto-soudal rider added the 183.5-kilometres stage from Nuneaton to his opening win in Newport on Sunday, with Italy’s Sacha Modolo (Education First) second and Patrick Bevin (BMC Racing) third.

New Zealand’s Bevin (BMC Racing) retained the overall lead ahead of today’s fifth stage, a 14km uphill team time trial from Cockermout­h to Whinlatter.

Australia’s Cameron Meyer is four seconds behind and Julian Alaphilipp­e of France is a further two seconds back. Hugh Carthy (Education First) is the highest-placed Briton, 0.23 behind in ninth.

After his second win in four days, Greipel told ITV4: “I knew it was going to be a long sprint but I planned to go from the corner full gas and it worked out perfectly.”

The race finishes on Sunday in central London.

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