Dan Martin now finds himself in the top 10 at the Vuelta. How much further can he go? (Photo: Sirotti)
Dan Martin has for the first time since the Vuelta a Espana began two weeks ago, found himself in the top 10 overall after an epic stage 14 in the mountains.
Martin has now 10th overall, some 4:37 down on race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) but is just over one minute behind Samuel Sanchez (BMC) in 7th place.
With plenty of climbing still to come, the Irishman could yet move higher on the general classification and could even break into the top five if things went his way.
Yesterday's stage was won by Ryder Hesjedal, Martin's team mate at Garmin-Sharp. He was among a breakaway of over 20 riders that went clear on the 200km stage from Santander to La Camperona-Valle de Sábero.
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Of the escape, some nine riders survived to the finish. But it was the fight among the main favourites up the climb to the finish that provided some fantastic entertainment.
Chris Froome (Team Sky) appeared to struggle on the early steep sections of the ascent but he reappeared in the select group featuring Martin and attacked it, taking 10th on the day and gaining time on all of his general classification riders.
The toughness of the climb and the pressure put on by Froome split the select group, with Martin coming home in 15th place, some 3:21 down on Hesjedal and 45 seconds down on Froome.
That ride was good enough to see him nudge from 11th to 10th and he will now be looking to pick off some of those ahead of him and also take a stage before the race finishes this day week.
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Philip Deignan was 43rrd yesterday, some 7:12 down; though once again he aided his team leader Froome on what was a day that seemed to relight his aspirations of winning the race overall. For the first time, Froome looked stronger than the other big names when the road went up.
Stage 14: Santander to Valle de Sábero (200km)
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 5:18:10
2 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:10
3 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:30
4 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:39
5 Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:42
6 Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol 0:00:52
7 Romain Sicard (Fra) Team Europcar 0:01:44
8 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:02:02
9 Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Spa) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:02:15
10 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:02:36
11 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:02:37
12 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:02:43
13 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:45
14 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:05
15 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 0:03:21
43 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:07:12
General Classification
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 54:20:16
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:42
3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:13
4 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:29
5 Rigoberto Urán (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:02:07
6 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:15
7 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:03:26
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:04:14
9 Winner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre-Merida 0:04:36
10 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 0:04:37
11 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale 0:04:45
12 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:05:10
13 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:06:02
14 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:06:18
15 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:07:18
57 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:55:19
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