Simon Yates keeps Vuelta a Espana lead despite minor time loss to Valverde
(Cyclingnews.com)

Simon Yates` grip on the race lead in the Vuelta a España weakened a little during stage 17 on Wednesday as the Mitchelton-Scott racer lost eight seconds to his closest GC pursuer, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Mitchelton-Scott`s Jack Haig and Yates` brother Adam did sterling work keeping the little group of favourites under control on the brutally steep ascent of Mount Oiz. But when Valverde laid down one of his trademark explosive accelerations close to the summit, Yates could not respond. He finished eight seconds behind Valverde, in 17th place.ADVERTISEMENT After the previous day`s small but unexpected gain of seven seconds on Valverde in the Torrelavega time trial, the Briton has now suffered an almost equally minor, unexpected time loss both to Valverde and the up-and-coming Spaniard Enric Mas (Quick Step Floors). Given that stage 17 was the mountain stage that he feared the most, it was perhaps not as much of a dangerous setback as it could have been. With Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), previously third overall in trouble on the climb, shedding nearly a minute and finishing alongside Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Yates was asked if he felt now that the Vuelta was a two-horse race between himself and Valverde. You can read more at Cyclingnews.com