Samuel Sanchez climbed strongly in today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana to move up one spot and get very close to Daniel Martin's sixth place. Usually strong in the third week, the BMC captain now hopes to pass the Irishman before the end of the race.

BMC Racing Team's Samuel Sánchez finished sixth on the summit finish of Monte Castrove Thursday at the Vuelta a España while moving up one spot in the general classification. 

Sánchez climbed from eighth to seventh overall after Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) did not start Thursday's stage to attend to a family emergency. Gesink had been sitting seventh overall.

By finishing 17 seconds after stage winner Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team), Sánchez gained time on the rider immediately ahead of him in the overall standings, Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp). 

"With the help of Cadel Evans and Dominik Nerz, Samuel did a very good performance and Martin is now only seven seconds in front of him," BMC Racing Team Sport Director Valerio Piva said. "I am really satisfied with the whole team. Our riders jumped in every big breakaway today: Manuel Quinziato first and Philippe Gilbert later in the biggest ones."

Aru sprinted in one second ahead of runner-up Christopher Froome (Team Sky), who moved into second overall. Race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished fifth, 13 seconds behind Aru, and is 6:59 ahead of Sánchez with three days to go.

"I am satisfied with my performance today and I want to thank my teammates for the help they gave me," Sánchez said. "I felt good and I hope to continue like this until the end and try to move up at least one position in the general classification. The Vuelta is still long: two more tough stages and the last individual time trial. I think several things can still happen."