Two-time stage winner Esteban Chaves has maintained seventh overall after a dangerous cobbled climb in the final three kilometres of stage 19 at the Vuelta a Espana.

After a relaxed start, that allowed a large breakaway plenty of room to contest for stage honours, the action from the peloton finally heated up once they hit the final category two climb with 30km to go.

Movistar hit the front with force and shelled out much of the bunch. Orica-GreenEDGE’s Daryl Impey rode strongly in support of Chaves to position the Colombian before he lost touch towards the top.

Despite several attacks, the general classification contenders remained together until the final three kilometres when race leader Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) attacked and took Daniel Moreno (Team Katusha) with him. Chaves held on with fellow top ten riders to finish nine seconds behind the duo.

“Today was a little bit tricky,” sport director Neil Stephens. “The most important section was the crosswinds coming into the climb and the final cobbled climb. Unfortunately on the final hill, when they attacked, Esteban didn’t know whether if he should be standing up, sitting down or what he should be doing to get up the cobbles. He lost a little bit of time to a few riders today but thankfully for us it wasn’t enough to lose his seventh place.

“Tomorrow is more about pure climbing. Esteban is quietly confident. He knows the area well having trained there with the Colombian national team, he knows the climbs well and he thinks they suit him, so we will be out to defend our seventh place.”