Chris Froome edged closer to the Vuelta a Espana title after coming second in the high mountain stage 11 on Wednesday, opening a gap of 1min 19sec in general classification. Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez won the stage to move into the top 10 at the expense of Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, who began the day third overall 36sec off the pace but ended it 4:45 behind Froome. The Briton made up time in the gruelling stage from Lorca to Calar Alto — which featured 3,490m of climbing and finished 2,120m above sea level — with a dash from the back to the front of the pack chasing Lopez. Froome beat Dutchman Wilco Kelderman and Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali to finish 14sec behind Lopez and take a 6sec bonus in his bid to become the first rider since 1978 to win a double of La Vuelta and the Tour de France in the same year. Nibali overtook Esteban Chaves as Froome’s nearest challenger and moved into second place overall, with the Colombian dropping from 36sec behind Froome before the stage to 2:33 adrift...
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