Aru holds Vuelta lead going into final stage

Fabio Aru is poised to win the Vuelta a España after the Italian claimed the race leader’s red jersey on the penultimate stage, a 176-kilometer trek from San Lorenzo de El Escorial to Cercedilla.

Overnight leader Tom Dumoulin managed to stay with him until the Morcuera ascent but it wasn’t to be for the Giant-Alpecin rider as he wasn’t able to keep pace and eventually dropped down to sixth overall, nearly four minutes adrift.

Barring a crash on the 21st and final stage, Aru, who is one minute and 17 seconds ahead of second-placed Joaquim Rodríguez of Spain, is set to go one better than his second-placed finish behind Alberto Contador at this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Spain’s Ruben Plaza rode solo to win the stage, crossing the finish-line 2 minutes and 42 seconds ahead of Poland’s Rafal Majka who is third overall, 12 seconds behind Rodriguez.