Team Saxo-Tinkoff's Chris Anker Sørensen was in the mood for another attack during today's 186.5 kilometer long 18th stage of Vuelta a Espana including five climbs from Burgos to Pena Cabarga where he made it in the long breakaway.

The uphill finish over 6 kilometers with gradients between 10 and 20% seemed like a treat for the explosive climbers and a very exciting finale was underway. Vasil Kiryienka (Sky) was in the break as well and he launched a solo attack 45 kilometers from the finish line while Saxo-Tinkoff's Chris Anker Sørensen, Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) and Angel Vicioso (Katusha) were chasing behind. In the peloton, Team Movistar went to the front relatively late to chase down the escapees. But it was too late. The stage winner were to be found in the breakaway.

Kiryienka hit the uphill finish with a gap of 1 and a half minutes to the chase group from where Saxo-Tinkoff's Chris Anker Sørensen attacked to chase the Belarus rider alone. In the peloton, the race for the GC was launched when Radioshack took over the pace and increased the pressure and slimmed down the group.

Kiryienka was simply unbeatable while Saxo-Tinkoff's Chris Anker Sørensen dug deep behind and took second place. Behind, Saxo-Tinkoff's Rafal Majka increased the pace with two kilometers to go with Nicolas Roche on his wheel. But on the steepest part of the climb, 41-year-old, Chris Horner leaped away from all favourites and gained ground on the leader's jersey.

Team Saxo-Tinkoff's Nicolas Roche finished with the leader of the race, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and consolidated his fifth position overall:

“Chris was doing a very good job in the front group and he came pretty close of catching Kiryienka again but even though he gained ground on the uphill finish, the gap was just too big for him to bridge. In general, the guys were working hard all day to keep Nico [Roche] out of trouble and on the final few kilometers, Rafal [Majka] went to the front to increase the pressure on the group of favourites and Nico followed up the good job by shadowing Valverde, Rodriguez and Nibali to the finish line. We're still trying to climb the GC. The race doesn't end until we're in Madrid,” commented Saxo-Tinkoff DS, Fabrizio Guidi.