Spain’s Mikel Landa won the 11th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday and his Astana Pro team-mate Fabio Aru became the new race leader as Chris Froome crashed before coming home 15th.
Mikel Landa proved that he is indeed the new ultra-mythical climber. Truly a special breed. The strongest rider today by far. #LV2015
The 25-year-old Landa (Astana Pro Team) clinched the 138-kilometre route from Andorra la Vella to Cortals d’Encamp, the toughest stage to ever feature in the Vuelta, in four hours, 34 minutes and 54 seconds.
Italy’s Aru crossed the line 1min and 22secs behind to finish second while American rider Ian Boswell of Team Sky came in third.
Team Sky rider and 2015 Tour de France winner Froome crashed on the first climb of the stage and – despite suffering a cut to his right leg – he was able to finish the highly-demanding stage, which contained six mountain passes.
He ended 15th, seven minutes and 30 seconds behind Aru, and has dropped to 15th overall, seven minutes and 30 seconds behind the new red jersey.
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Aru was handed the race leader’s red jersey and leads the general standings, 27 seconds ahead of Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez (Team Katusha), who came home 1:59 behind the stage winner.
Giant-Alpecin’s Tom Dumoulin, who went into Wednesday’s stage as the race leader after Tuesday’s rest day, has dropped to third in the general standings and the Dutchman is now 30 seconds adrift of Aru.
Tinkoff Saxo rider Sergio Paulinho was forced to withdraw from the race after colliding with a TV motorcycle.
The Portuguese rider was taken to hospital and needed 17 stitches in his leg.
Thursday’s 12th stage is a 173-kilometre ride from Escaldes-Engordany to Lleida.
