Horner takes race lead at Vuelta

Chris Horner has wrestled the race leader’s red jersey from the shoulders of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) following a brilliant 19th stage of the Vuelta A Espana yesterday.

The Radioshack-Leopard rider, who had moved to within three seconds of Nibali on Thursday, finished six seconds ahead of the Italian which proved enough for him to take a three-second lead into today’s penultimate stage.

The stage was won by Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) who repaid his team’s efforts of reeling in the breakaway by bursting clear of a fragmented pack with one kilometre of the 181km stage between San Vicente de la Barquera and Alto Naranco remaining.

Ireland’s Nicholas Roche had launched a late attack half-way up the final climb in a bid to move up from fifth overall but could not get clear of Rodriguez, who raced to victory. Roche had to be content with 10th place and is still fifth overall, 3’49” down on Horner.

Today’s stage will see the riders race up the perilously steep Alto de L´Angliru climb after which the winner will be crowned as tomorrow’s final day is merely a ceremonial ride in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Team Ireland are still very much in control at Rás na mBan.

The team of Melanie Späth, Lydia Boylan, Caroline Ryan and Olivia Dillon took a comfortable victory in yesterday’s stage three team time trial, having 31 seconds to spare over DID Electrical with the Luxembourg team a further 10 seconds in arrears on the 13.4km course at Barefield near Ennis, county Clare. Hannah Barnes (DID) won last night’s criterium race but Dillon is still in yellow.