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.