Astana Pro Team rider Vincenzo Nibali leads the Vuelta by three seconds with two competitive stages remaining after Thursday's steep mountain climb to Pena Cabarga.

Nibali finished the 186km stage from Burgos to Pena Cabarga 2:18 behind winner Vasil Kiriyenka from Belarus, but more importantly the Italian held on to his advantage over American rider Chris Horner by three seconds in the overall classification.

“It’s been a very eventful stage. I was going very well today and I intended to gain some time over my rivals, but Horner has demonstrated to being too agile. I thought I had the race under control when he rode away. He got me off his wheel! At the age of 41, he’s very strong! For sure it’s going to be difficult to beat him if he doesn’t have any moment of weakness. Even Rodriguez tried to drop him off and didn’t succeed. Movistar set a very high pace. But Horner is definitely the strongest. I’m not optimistic, I’m not pessimistic, and I take this result with philosophy. I came to the Vuelta to do my best. I also wanted to win a stage and I’ve not achieved that yet. But my condition has been excellent up to now. I’m still the race leader and I still believe in my chances,” Nibali said.

Astana Pro Team Director Sportif Alexander Shefer said Horner's attack on the final 6km climb, with some gradients steeper than 20 per cent, was hard to match.

"At the bottom of the climb everyone was equal, but when the attacks started with 2 km to go, Horner showed he is the strongest. This is no easy competition, and we still have two days left in the mountains and one day in Madrid, and we will have to make the right moves to keep the jersey and try to win the Vuelta,” Shefer said to the Astana webpage.