Froome takes Vuelta lead

ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra — Chris Froome climbed into the leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana for the first time since 2011 on Monday despite missing out on the stage three win to Vincenzo Nibali.

Four-time Grand Tour winner Nibali took the mountainous 158.5km ride from Prades to Andorra la Vella in 4hrs 01mins 22secs ahead of Spaniard David de la Cruz with Tour de France champion Froome in third.

However, that was enough to move the Briton into the overall lead, two seconds ahead of De la Cruz, Ireland's Nicolas Roche and American Tejay van Garderen.

"It's been a long time since I had the red jersey, it feels amazing to put it back on," said Froome.

"To be in this position is something I've thought about for a long time and I worked really hard after the Tour."

Froome is aiming to become just the third man in history to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same year after Frenchman Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1978).

And despite three second-placed finishes at the Vuelta, it is the first time he has led the race since his breakout Grand Tour when he played a supporting role for Bradley Wiggings in 2011.

With nine summit finishes to come over three gruelling weeks in searing Spanish summer heat, Froome believes it will be difficult to stay in front all the way to Madrid on September 10.

"It's going to be really hard to keep it until the end, especially with the time bonuses out there," he added.

"It's only two seconds to the next group of riders. It's still really close.