Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche revel in Vuelta cauldron

Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche both survived the intense heat, the gruelling terrain and a flurry of late attacks to preserve third and fourth overall, respectively, at the Vuelta A Espana yesterday.

The seventh stage of the race took the riders 190 kilometres from Jodar to the category one summit finish of La Alpujarra and the Irish pair were 10th and 11th across the line in a select group of big-name General Classification contenders.

One name conspicuous by his absence, however, was reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome after being distanced by that group of favourites and he would concede over 30 seconds.