Chris Froome
Chris Froome withdrew from the Vuelta a España after suffering a fractured foot following his crash in the stage 11 of the race. Reuters/Jon Nazca

Team Sky’s Chris Froome is regaining his best form in the Vuelta a España after an impressive run on stage nine of the race. Froome, who is chasing a rare Tour-Vuelta double, now sits eighth overall but is looking to gain steam as the Spanish Vuelta approaches the high mountains.

Froome’s bid to chase a rare Tour-Vuelta double has regained all the momentum he lost on stage seven when he was dropped after suffering nearly 30 seconds on the other riders. The 2015 Tour de France winner produced a sensational climb to Monday’s summit finish , only to be nipped by Dutchman rider Tom Dumoulin. But despite missing out on the stage victory, Froome’s finish was still a huge boost to the British rider’s campaign in the Spanish race.

In addition, Froome rode his general classifications rivals off the wheel, with Movistar riders Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana and Team Astana’s Fabio Aru all unable to keep up with the Sky rider’s explosive pace in Cumbre del Sol. However, the 30-year-old Froome admitted he was disappointed about not winning the stage at the last possible moment.

"I'm gutted, I gave it everything. I thought I had it for a second there,” Froome said, reports BBC. Froome also revealed that he raced more conservatively at the bottom to try and save some energy for an effort at the top. "[But] more than anything I was happy I was up there and that I didn't lose too much time today,” Froome added, reports Cycling News.

The next big challenge for Froome will come on the overwhelming climbs through Andorra, which has no fewer than six separate ascents and nearly 5,000 vertical metres of climbing. However, Froome’s performance signals that the Brit is building towards a much stronger second half of the Vuelta.

Meanwhile, Colombian rider Esteban Chaves, has finally shown exhaustion in the Spanish Vuelta. Chaves entered into stage nine with a 10-second lead over Dumoulin, but his 15th place finish dropped him to third overall and two seconds behind Joaquim Rodriguez.

(Courtesy of BBC) Stage nine result:

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Giant) 4hrs 09mins 55secs

2. Chris Froome (GB/ Team Sky) +02secs

3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/ Katusha) +05secs

4. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +16secs

5. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) +18secs

6. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +20secs

7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) Same time

8. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Team Sky) +31secs

9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +33secs

10. Louis Meintjes (SA/Team MTN) +34secs

Selected: 15. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica) +59secs

General classification after stage nine:

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Giant) 35hrs 22mins 13secs

2. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +57secs

3. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica) +59secs

4. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Team Sky) +1min 07secs

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1min 09secs

6. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +1min 13secs

7. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +1min 17secs

8. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 18secs

9. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) +1min 47secs

10. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +1min 52secs

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