Holding their breath. That’s how Colombian fans (and more) lived the last, brutal kilometers of another huge mountain stage of the 70th Vuelta a España, Luarca-Alto Ermita de Alba (185 km). Colombia-Coldeportes’ Rodolfo Torres came within seconds of a memorable success in Spain. He only surrendered at the end of an extensive breakaway – and after seven categorized climbs – to Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Team), who needed to use all of his experience to finally see off the Colombian.

Ten riders came out of the bunch after a handful kilometers, on a day in which the breakaway and the rest of the riders practically rode two different races. No less than 22 minutes of maximum advantage: it was the huge margin allowed by the pack before Katusha started to react. But also upfront, the battle lit up the race, on the penultimate climb to Alto de la Cobertoria, when Schleck’s pace started to make victims in the front group.

The breakaway got reduced from the original ten riders to eight, four, and finally two. Schleck and Torres, clearly the strongest men uphill in a day with a 5.500-meter overall altitude.

“On the fifth climb, it was very clear already that Schleck was the strongest of my opponents, the one I should have kept a close eye on,” Torres reported. “Actually I was not wrong. It was me who brought him into the break, indeed… Verona (Etixx-Quickstep), Rolland (Europcar) and Fraile (Caja Rural) had accelerated, I attacked to bridge over them, and Frank came in my wake.”

The two men at the front faced together the last descent before the decisive climb, one that riders and fans will remember for a long time: the Alto de Ermita de Alba. It was climbed for the first time at the Vuelta a España, with a 11,1% average gradient, and 22% maximum peaks, can live up to comparisons with the most feared climbs in Grand Tours.

“It is incredibly hard, I can’t compare it with any other I climbed in the past at this very moment,” Torres told. “We had agreed with Schleck to ride up at a regular pace, and eventually leave the battle for the stage win to the final part. He made great use of his experience: I was watching him and he looked tired, while I was still feeling good. That’s where I thought this could have really been the right time, after all.”

Instead, with 3 km to go, Schleck dug deep and Tores could not follow:

“With four to go, I realized I was getting out of energies. In those moments, all the efforts of two weeks at full gas suddenly come back to you. I tried to play mind games: I moved at the front, trying my best to look fresh and hoping he would surrender. But Schleck has a Tour de France podium to his name, and not by a case…

“It was a very demanding stage, just like the one in Andorra. I had good sensations to be in the front with Schleck. He accelerated twice and I did not have the strength to win the stage. I can’t be disappointed. I worked well today and we’re going to continue to fight for a stage win.”

Schleck accelerates, keeps a good pace even on the dreadful ramps in the last 2 km, and finally celebrates with raised arms on the finishing line. One minute later, Torres uses the last sip of energy to greet the public that was cheering for him, make the sign of the cross and finally lean, exhausted, in the arms of Marco, the carer. Waiting for him were the microphones of the press, Claudio Corti’s hug, and the most combative rider award: it is becoming a pleasant routine for Colombia-Coldeportes, now at its third “red number” in a row.

“I wanted to win, of course. We are racing for this, the team worked hard to help me get in the break and go for this opportunity, and I believe to have done everything I could. There is a pinch of disappointment, but I still think I raced a great stage: I was beaten by a great rider. Congratulations to Frank, but the Vuelta won’t end until Sunday. And we will attack again,” Torres said.

Claudio Corti really could not complain with his rider’s display:

“He rode smart, he managed himself well, and kept up with a more experienced and savvy rider like Frank Schleck. Actually, he would have deserved this win, for today’s performance as well as for his whole season.” At the end of the stage, Torres also jumped up to 25th in the overall classification.

Coming on top of the “other” race, the one among the GC riders, was Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), taking the red jersey away of Fabio Aru (Astana) by short measure. The time trial in Burgos, coming on Wednesday after the last rest day of the Vuelta, might well write a decisive page in the story of the Spanish race.