Two-time stage winner Esteban Chaves has finished sixth on stage seven of the Vuelta a Espana to maintain his ten second lead at the Spanish Grand Tour.

The stage was touted as the first general classification test of the 2015 Tour with a 19km category one climb to finish.

Chaves crossed the line 36seconds down on Bertjan Lindeman (Team Lotto-Jumbo) who survived from the breakaway to claim the stage.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “Today was a final with a 40 or 50minute climb, really really long, and the team again was fantastic.

“It’s a big responsibility (to be in the red jersey), it’s important you don’t lose your head and you stay really focused. It’s the first big uphill finish and now it is important to recover.

"I'm really happy and especially of the team work. I can't still believe that Tour de France yellow jerseys or world champions are looking after me. It's an important step but we must keep focused because the next few stages are difficult again.

"Today finished with 20km of climbing. Again I want say the team is unbelievable, they stayed with me all stage. You saw in the final, Cameron [Meyer] is up there for the last 45 kilometers. This guy is unbelievable. The whole team worked really well, they saved me from the wind, got me drinks. I’m really happy. Another day with the red jersey and every day with this jersey is an important day.

"It’s a big responsibility, but I have a really good team, these guys have great experience, they tell me really important things. It’s a big responsibility but we have worked really hard here.

"It was very hot in the last climb. It was a 40, 50-minute climb and everybody suffered from the heat. We're going to keep fighting to keep the jersey.

"I don't know what happened to Chris Froome, I'll have a look at the GC standings. I'm surprised he lost time because he is the Tour de France winner and a great champion."

Fabio Aru (Astana Team) attacked the general classification group towards the top of the final climb to gain a few extra seconds, whilst Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing) lost further time off the back.

The top three overall places remain unchanged - Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) sits ten seconds behind Chaves with Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) 33seconds adrift.

“(Aru) attacked, but I think it’s not my responsibility to close all gaps,” the 25-year-old said. “All of the other riders want to win, same to me, and finally Aru (gained) some seconds.

“He is an important rider, obviously, but I can’t go for all riders because I don’t have amazing amazing legs.

“It’s important to save energy for the future. There is a lot of important stages coming, and I say again it’s really important to stay really focused and concentrate.”