Team Sky did their best to enliven stage nine at the Vuelta a España on Sunday with Luke Rowe and Edvald Boasson Hagen, yet saw unexpected time loss for Rigoberto Urán on what was supposed to be his preferred terrain.

Uran’s Colombian compatriot Sergio Henao led Team Sky home in 13th place, just 18 seconds back on the day’s forceful winner and new race leader Daniel Moreno (Katusha). The Spaniard left his rivals on the ruthless gradient to defeat the duo of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Joaquím Rodriguez (Katusha) by four seconds.

Urán eventually lost 49 seconds to Moreno, dropping time to his rivals but still retaining a place in the top 10, ninth overall, 1:24 back.

After the stage Sky Sports Director Marcus Ljungqvist explained the reasons why Sky's best-placed rider on GC lost nearly a minute on the finishing ascent.

"Rigo wasn't really on it today," he Ljungqvist told the Sky website. "The peloton went really hard in the final and he had heavy legs, as well as not being in the best position. Often that goes hand-in-hand. Hopefully he'll feel better tomorrow.”