Terrific Tom Dumoulin denies Chris Froome to move back into red

Updated 30/08/2015 at 20:38 GMT

An extraordinary performance from Tom Dumoulin saw the Dutchman move back into the race lead of the Vuelta a España after pipping Chris Froome for victory in a dramatic uphill conclusion to stage nine at Cumbre del Sol, writes Felix Lowe.

Giant-Alpecin's Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin crosses the finish line to win the nineth stage of the 2015 Vuelta Espana cycling tour, a 168.3km stage between Torrevieja and Cumbre del Sol, municipality of Benitatxell, on August 26, 2015

Image credit: AFP

Giant-Alpecin all-rounder Dumoulin put in a series of stinging attacks on the decisive climb of the Alto de Puig Llorença at the business end of the 168km stage from Torrevieja, the 24-year-old Dutchman finally rounding Tour de France champion Froome in the last 50 metres to take the biggest win of his career.

Team Sky's Froome looked destined to open up his account on the Vuelta after his steady tempo riding saw the Briton nullify Dumoulin's titanic efforts and shred the group of main favourites on the punishing 4.1km climb overlooking the Costa Blanca.

But Dumoulin - wearing the white combined jersey - dug deep into his power reserves, swinging from the slipstream of Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) to deny Froome what looked like a certain victory at the death.

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Dumoulin had time to look once over his shoulder before crossing the line with a fist pump two seconds clear of Froome, with Rodriguez taking third place five seconds in arrears.

“Unbelievable - I could have never imagined this," said Dumoulin. "Yesterday, I had a really bad day. The team told me, 'Just to keep going and see how it goes', and today it ended pretty well.”

Image credit: AFP

With overnight race leader Esteban Chaves of Colombia struggling on the gruelling 25% maximum gradient of the final climb to finish the stage almost a minute down, Dumoulin returned to the top of the overall standings in some style.

Bouyed by an extra 10 bonus seconds at the finish, Dumoulin now leads veteran Rodriguez by 57 seconds on GC as Orica-GreenEdge's Chaves drops to third place a further two seconds back.

“I’m gutted – I thought I had it for a second,” said Froome, whose second-place saw the 30-year-old rise back into the top ten. “Dumoulin has shown incredible form in this race – hats off to him, he’s a young rider who has been amazing.”

Froome himself looked to be struggling with the constant accelerations of his rivals on the final climb as the likes of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Fabio Aru (Astana) and Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) all tried their luck in between Dumoulin’s searing salvos.

But the double Tour winner kept his cool as he rode back into contention before launching his own attack to ride clear inside the final kilometre.

Froome looked odds-on to win his first stage on the Vuelta since 2011 before his Dutch rival’s last throw of the dice turned the race on its head.

“I gave it everything today,” added Froome. “I did try to ride conservatively towards the bottom of the climb to keep something back for the finish but I just didn’t have enough.”

Stage 9: Results, standings, live comments

HIGHLIGHTS

1- 14-MAN BREAK

After just three kilometres of racing a large break formed featuring Welshman Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), the blue polka dot jersey Omar Fraile (Caja Rural) and three Etixx-QuickStep riders in Nikolas Maes, Pieter Serry and Maxime Bouet.

The break was later joined by Frenchman Alexis Gougeard (Ag2R-La Mondiale) to make it 14-strong with a maximum lead of just over five minutes as the riders head up the Costa Brava towards the picture-postcard town of Calpe.

2- CRASH CHAOS

The break’s progress was helped in part by a large crash which split the pack early on in the 168km stage, with the likes of Valverde and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2R-La Mondiale) hitting the deck.

With some big name riders – including the red jersey Chaves, Astana duo Aru and Mikel Landa, and Spain’s Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural) – caught out by the split, the Katusha team of Rodriguez and Dani Moreno upped the tempo in pursuit of the leaders.

3- DUAL ASCENT

The gap was down to three minutes as the break hit the tough Alto de Puig Llorença for the first of two ascents, with Fraile consolidating his lead in the polka dot jersey competition by taking maximum points over the summit.

Nine of the original break of 14 regrouped after the climb before Thomas, Bouet and Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff-Saxo) rode clear with 11km remaining once Dutchman Maarten Tjallingii (LottoNL-Jumbo) won the intermediate sprint.

After Katusha dropped back, it was the Orica-GreenEdge team of Chaves which led the chase in the pack, reducing the gap to a handful of seconds going onto the second and final ascent.

4- FIRST CLASS FINALE

Despite his earlier crash, Valverde – wearing the green jersey following the earlier withdrawal of Peter Sagan – was first to attack alongside his Movistar team-mate Nairo Quintana.

Movistar's Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintanacrosses the finish line during the Ninth stage of the 2015 Vuelta Espana cycling tour, a 168,3 km stage between Torrevieja and El Poble Nou de Benitachell August 30, 2015

Image credit: AFP

With Froome distanced early on, it was Dumoulin who made the first big dig with 2.5km remaining. Aru and Chaves combined to reel in Dumoulin but the Dutchman went again inside the final 2km.

Dumoulin held a lead of eight seconds going under the flamme rouge as Majka attacked from the pack. A resurgent Froome led the chase, his seated surge reeling back both Majka and Dumoulin with 500 metres to spare.

When Rodriguez came to the front the scene was set for a home win before Froome bounded clear. But it was Dumoulin – perhaps spurred on by Chaves being dropped – who had the last say on yet another dramatic day in Spain.

Aru finished fourth at 16 seconds and Majka fifth at 18 seconds before Movistar pair Valverde and Quintana came home 20 seconds in arrears. Double stage winner Chaves could only finish in 15th place after his first off-day of the race.

COMING UP: It’s a finish suited to a sprint or a break for the final stage ahead of Tuesday’s much needed rest day. The 146.5km stage 10 from Valencia features two categorised climbs before what should be a fast finish in Castelleon.

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