ESTEPONA, Spain (AP) — Czech rider Leopold Konig used a final uphill surge to win the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday, while Nicolas Roche took over the leader’s red jersey.
Konig passed Igor Anton before holding off Daniel Moreno’s final sprint to claim the 167-kilometer (104-mile) ride from Jerez de la Frontera ending with a category-one summit finish at Alto de Penas Blancas.
The 25-year-old Konig, who rides for NetApp-Endura, won a mountain stage of the Tour of California earlier this month.
Roche, the Irish SaxoBank-Tinkoff cyclist, crossed the finish line third behind Moreno.
According to provisional results, Roche opened a 17-second lead over Moreno and American Christopher Horner. Former leader Vincenzo Nibali was a further second behind.
