NICOLAS ROCHE BROKE back into the top five with another strong performance at the Vuelta a España.
Roche’s SaxoBank team took advantage of the wind on today’s 18th stage and blew the peloton apart in the final kilometres of the approach to Burgos.
Holland’s Bauke Mollema won the stage as Roche finished 10th, more than a minute and a half ahead of GC rivals Thibaud Pinot and Domenico Pozzovivo.
He moves back up to fifth place overall, 1’26″ ahead of Pozzovivo.
Race leader Vincenzo Nibali finished 14th today and holds on to his red jersey by 28 seconds from Christopher Horner ahead of Sunday’s finish in Madrid.