Chris Horner is the current leader in the mountains classification, but hopes to switch it for the red leader’s jersey in the upcoming stages.

“This was just a stage to survive and not lose time, be careful and stay in position on the GC to wait for the climbs.  It was a little bit dangerous out there with roundabouts, curves and the like.  But the team was really good – Popovich, Rast and Irizar, they took care of me very nicely.  Tomorrow’s goal will be more of the same.  Then on Saturday comes the mountains,” Horner said to RSLT’s website.

“During the rest day and the time trial, I have the feeling that I put on some weight, so today’s stage has been perfect for leaning. It was hot, we were racing fast, that’s what I needed.”

A technical run-in to the finish in the urban setting of Tarragon was just the ticket for world champion Philippe Gilbert to finally earn a win in the rainbow jersey.  With the championships coming up in a few weeks, time was running out for the Belgian, but he made it happen today with a sprint victory ahead of Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen and Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre).

Chris Horner remains in fourth place at 46-seconds behind race leader Vincenzo Nibali of Astana.  Second and third places are held by Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) by 33- and 46-seconds.

The time trials are now behind and plenty of climbing is still ahead as the 68th Vuelta a España rolled through a 164.2km transitional stage on Thursday.  The sprint stage began in Maella and featured a trio of riders in a day-long breakaway.  Romain Zingle (Cofidis), Cedric Pineau (FdJ) and Fabrizio Ferrari (Caja Rural/ stayed clear of the peloton until under 19km to go when they were brought back and the race was all together in preparation for the final.  Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) tried a move at under 14km to go, looking for a stage win, but work from BMC brought him back as they rode to put Gilbert in position for the win on the slight uphill finish.  Gilbert overcame a late attack by Boasson Hagen to claim the win by a bike length.

Friday’s stage gets closer to the next series of mountain stages.  The 169km stage begins in Valls and ends in Castelldefels with two categorized climbs along the way.  Saturday brings the first of three-in-a-row uphill finishes as la Vuelta enters the final week of racing in what is sure to be an exciting battle for the overall victory.