Joaquin Rodriquez won the eigth stage of the Vuelta a España this afternoon.
The Spaniard went away in the final kilomteres of a 183km stage from Talavera de la Reina to San Lorenzo de El Escorial after Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Cervélo) and Matteo Montaguti (AG2R-La Mondiale) were dealt with.
With three kilometres to go and facing the hardest climb of a tough day, Cofidis’ Rein Taaramae was away but was caught by the peloton.
Michele Scarponi attacked next but Rodriquez picked his moment and won in a time of 4hr 49 mins and a second and take the leaders red jersey. Nicholas Roche was seventh with Danny Martin in ninth
Stage nine is from Villacastín to Sierra de Bejar. La Covatilla
Picture copyright of Tour Of Spain/Graham Watson