David Arroyo was Caja Rural-Seguros RGA's best rider in stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana and is currently 20th in the General Classification. Ángel Madrazo tried insistently during the stage that finished in his land, Cantabria. Omar Fraile is still leading the King of the Mountain classification and maintains the same advantage over Rubén Plaza. That makes it 12 days wearing the King of the Mountain jersey.

There were bad news for the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team as it loses yet another rider, Lluis Mas. The Balearic rider, one of last year’s key riders in the Vuelta, who won an important triumph in the Tour of Turkey earlier this year, has had to abandon.

The rider admitted: “it has been a very tough Vuelta for me, but the worst moment has been having to abandon the race. I tried to avoid it at all costs, but even if your head says to continue, if your entire body says no, it’s inevitable. I can’t put into words how powerless I feel. I’ve barely been able to enjoy this Vuelta, just a few of the first stages. But between the fever and my stomach, that really affected me, then everything seemed to get better and I was fine… The day before the Andorra stage I felt like I was coming down with the flu and I’ve been getting worse ever since. My chest is so painful and I have the flu, it’s such a shame, I’m so upset, but I just can’t compete like this”.