Hola and welcome to live coverage of Stage 17 of La Vuelta - a 180.5km ride from Villadiego to Los Machucos, a rolling stage that concludes with what's not more than a double-digit goat ramp of a climb.

Froome's lead is down to 1'16 today after that wobble on the climb to Los Muchacos, with Zakarin keeping up the pressure on Kelderman, and Contador doing his best to snare a podium finish.

Here's the moment Denifl crossed the line for his victory...

Chris Froome comes home with Mikel Nieve at 1'46" so he will lose time today.

Alberto Contador comes home 28 seconds down for second place, before Miguel Angel Lopez leads the chasers home at 1'04". He's followed by the likes of Nibali, Zakarin and Majka.

Victory for Stefan Denifl of Aqua Blue Sport! That's only his third as a pro...

Nieve still paces Froome, his ailing team leader, who is clearly suffering from his exploits yesterday.

Under the flamme rouge goes Stefan Denifl - and he has 25 seconds to play with. The victory is surely his.

Contador is really grimacing and giving it his all - but Denifl is staying calm and composed. The road eases up in the last kilometre and so he should hold on.

Contador is more than a minute ahead of Froome so this will put his podium bid back on track if he doesn't manage to win the stage.

It's down to 30 seconds now for Denifl...

Nibali rides with Zakarin - they're passing Haig and catching Lopez. Kelderman is further back.

Froome is now digging deep with Nieve as he tries to reduce the arrears...

Contador has caught and passed his compatriot Moreno now. Just Denifl to go now, but the Austrian still has 35 seconds to play with.

We're onto the steep concrete ramped corners through the woods now - and Contador has reduced the gap to 40 seconds. It's good but it may not be enough.

Contador has caught Haig and Alaphilippe - and Lopez is way back now. Denifl has 50 seconds to play with on the Spanish veteran, with Moreno somewhere in between. Nibali's group is 1'30 back and Froome is now 1'40 down and being paced by Rosa, Poels and Nieve. They catch and pass De Marchi.

Froome is clearly struggling because he has four Sky riders around him and they don't look to be too troubled. He's almost a minute back on Contador now, who has caught De Marchi, but still trails the lone leader - Denifl - by one minute.

Contador has dropped Lopez - two different styles: the former out of the saddle and dancing, the latter calm and measured in the saddle. They reach the lip ahead of the last flat point before the final rise to the finish. The gaps are getting bigger...

Moreno actually attacked in pursuit of Denifl, who is the lone leader for now. An impressive ride from the Austrian, who has about 10 seconds on the Spaniard.

Froome is in trouble - he's been distanced by the main pack of favourites and has four Sky riders around him.

Now Contador attacks! The Spaniard with a trademark out-of-the-saddle dig on the steepest part of the climb. He reaches Lopez - but the two only have 10 seconds over the chasers.