Chris Froome won Tuesday’s individual time trial to increase his Vuelta a Espana lead and remain in position to win the race for the first time.
The Tour de France winner had a dominant performance in the flat, 40.2km stage from the Circuito de Navarra to Logrono in northern Spain, finishing 29 seconds ahead of Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman and 57 seconds in front of Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali.
In the overall standings, the British rider’s lead over Nibali increased to 1 minute, 58 seconds following the 16th-stage time trial. Kelderman moved to third overall, 42 seconds behind Nibali.
“It’s a big relief and obviously I’m super happy to be in this position,” Froome said. “That’s an amazing feeling to extend my lead. The race is not over. I’m gonna have to fight every day.”
It was Froome’s second stage win in the Vuelta. He had not won any stages on his way to victory in the Tour de France earlier this season.
The Team Sky rider has been wearing the leader’s red jersey since the third stage in the Vuelta, a race in which he finished second three times, including last year.
Froome is trying to become the third rider to complete the Tour-Vuelta double in the same season.
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