Chris Froome’s advantage at the top of the Vuelta a España standings widened yet again on the Xorret de Cati as the Team Sky leader blasted away from the pack in the final kilometre of the ultra-steep Spanish climb.
Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott), the rider who’s been best able to match Froome so far on the two climbing stages, was unable to maintain the pace on stage 8, crossing the finish line 17 seconds back. As a result Chaves remains in second overall but a time gap that was barely in double figures has now stretched to almost triple its previous size.
Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) has now taken over as the rider best able to handle Froome’s pace, as he did on Wednesday’s summit finish of Santa Lucia and again on the Xorret de Cati. There was also an intriguing but ultimately ineffective long-distance attack by Contador in the sierras of Valencia on Thursday that Froome, again, could match. As the rest of the GC contenders lose time, and with Contador at over three minutes, Froome recognised there could come a point when he and the Spanish veteran might join forces.
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“It’s in both of our interests to work together,” Froome said after stage 8. “Today he didn’t want to work with me, the other day I didn’t want to work with him. There might be some situations where we can work together.”
Froome recognized that Contador is not simply taking part in his final Grand Tour to make up the numbers, or as he put it a shade wryly. “I definitely get the sense he’s not here to ride around Spain giving selfies and signing autographs.”
“He’s here to try and win. There were a tough first few days and I imagine he will keep putting me under pressure.” It’s not just direct attacks that Contador can use to cause Froome problems, as the Briton pointed out, too. There are ambushes like the one engineered on last year’s stage to Formigal. “I have to be really attentive to be sure that something like last year doesn’t happen again.”
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