Nicolas Roche remains in fantastic position in Vuelta standings ahead of weekend of pain

Nicolas Roche looks relaxed in the combined classification leader's jersey on the road during today's 13th stage of the Vuelta. He has arrived at the start of a key weekend in the race still in second place overall.

By Gavin McLoughlin

Nicolas Roche finished safely alongside his general classification rivals as a breakaway group made it all the way to the finish on stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana today, Friday.

It was a stage of relative calm before three consecutive days of torture in the high mountains, and the Irishman remains in second place overall at 31 seconds behind race-leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). In addition, the Saxo-Tinkoff leader continues to lead the combined classification.

Roche briefly rode away from the rest of the favourites on the final climb of the day, following the pace of the Katusha duo of Giampaolo Caruso and Joaquin Rodriguez on the first-category Alto del Rat Penat which peaked 50 kilometres from home.

Pre-stage analysis focused on this ascent as the key to the victory, as it looked as if the sprinters could be shelled out the rear by a distance that would allow a select group of better climbers to contest the finish.

However, the aggression of Roche, Caruso and Rodriguez did not spur the peloton into action as most preferred to keep their powder dry ahead of the difficult stages to come. Before long, the Irishman was re-absorbed by the bunch.

A crash just after the beginning of today’s 169-kilometre ride from Valls to Castelldefels saw the abandonment of Pablo Lastras (Movistar) and Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin), and the break of the day would not be formed until 75 kilometres were covered.

An 18-man contingent including Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida), Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano), Jérôme Coppel (Cofidis) and Ivan Santaromita (BMC) were finally able to escape.

When the Alto del Rat Penat arrived, Scarponi was the strongest climber, easily dropping his companions and pressing on alone.

On the descent, nine of the original escapees made it back to Scarponi and together these men forged a new alliance. Vincenzo Nibali’s Astana lieutenants spearheaded the pursuit but in a manner devoid of real vigour, and the escapees’ prospects grew rosier by the minute.

With 28 kilometres remaining, the gap stood at 3:35 and Cannondale decided to take over the chase. Soon Française des Jeux were assisting and the lead began to dwindle, but not fast enough.

The peloton gave up with 15 kilometres to go and with victory now assured for one of the escapees, you waited for the attacks to come out front.

Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) was one of the leaders and he was eliminated from contention after crashing nastily as the breakaway rounded a corner and entered a short tunnel.

Of the remaining riders, Coppel was the most aggressive but the Frenchman was unable to make any of his moves stick. Instead, it was his 21-year-old compatriot Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano) who ultimately managed to claim the victory.

The rail-thin Barguil darted clear just before the flamme rouge and was able to pull out a decisive advantage with his rivals futilely looking at each other. Crossing the line with a broad smile on his face, the talented Frenchman marvellously underlined his status as one to watch for the future.

Roche arrived 2:43 later and will face a gruelling challenge tomorrow. A 27-kilometre hors-categorie brute of a mountain peaks about 70 kilometres out, followed by two second-category climbs that serve as entrées for a summit finish atop the first-category Collada de la Gallina in Andorra.

The Irishman and the rest of the field on Sunday face what is arguably the queen stage on Sunday; a 232km jaunt in the high mountains.

The Saxo-Tinkoff leader lost time to half a dozen of his rivals on the last summit finish, but displayed considerable mental strength in his refusal to crumble after being distanced on multiple occasions.

He will need to replicate that attitude in what will be a veritable war of attrition on stage 14, and the manner in which he performs will say much about his prospects of a place on the podium in Madrid.

@gavmcloughlin