This Vuelta ain't over yet, not by a long stretch

Chris Froome has looked like a man improving by the day at this Vuelta and so when he came into the second rest day little more than a minute and a half behind Alberto Contador for the race lead, it was clearly to see that this Vuelta was far from a done deal despite how strong Contador had been looking in matching and beating Froome on virtually every climb thus far.

Froome had been getting dropped when the pace went up among the three amigos of Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde, but thanks to their games of cat and mouse the steady riding Froome, who keeps one eye on the power metre on his handlebars and one eye on the road below him, was able to limit any potential losses. Froome should have been out of contention by now, but instead he remains in the mix and with every passing day finds his best form.

Coming into this Vuelta many tipped him to be the man to beat Contador; Froome had left the Tour earlier than Contador and only done so with a broken wrist whereas Contador had badly damaged his leg. He was down for longer, closer to the Vuelta and it was one of the key components on the body of a cyclist that he had damaged. Yet surprisingly Contador was the one soaring when the roads went up and it was Froome struggling. But what was obvious, as far as I could see, was that Froome was getting better whereas Contador was merely maintaining his good form.

And then today, Froome struck. With three mountain stages left (though one has its hills a long way from the finish) including today he went on the attack and stole back 12 seconds on Contador, which coupled with the 8 second time bonus on the line was enough to put him only 1 minute, 19 seconds behind the Spaniard on GC. Safely into second ahead of a Valverde who Froome has now caught and passed for form and who will surely regret not helping Contador put the Sky rider to the sword several days ago.

With only one summit finish left, on Saturday, plus a short 9.7 kilometre individual time-trial on the final day you get the sense that Chris Froome might now be on terms with Contador for form and ready to reduce that lead further. Whether he can take enough time before he runs out of stages will be tough but not impossible and will be fascinating to watch.

Another rider who is gaining in form the longer this race goes on is 24 year old Italian, Fabio Aru who took the win today, riding to the line with and beating Froome. The next Vincenzo Nibali as they like to call him and you can see why. He's similarly built to Nibali, he's also from an Italian island -- Sardinia to Nibali's Sicily -- and anyone who watched the Giro this year and seen him win stage 15, finish 2nd in the mountain time-trial only 17 seconds behind Nairo Quintana and finish 3rd overall will know there is an exceptional young talent within; the future of Italian cycling. Suffice to say when Nibali was the age Aru was when he finished 3rd in this years Giro (age 23) he only managed 11th.

Aru won't win this Vuelta, but sitting 5th overall, 46 seconds behind Rodriguez for 4th and 1 minute, 43 seconds behind Valverde for 3rd you get the sense he is sniffing a move up in the standings and perhaps even at a long shot a podium position. And why not? A Grand Tour victory can only be a matter of year or two away for the young man from San Gavino Monreale.

Result:

1. Aru (AST) in 3h47'17"

2. Froome (SKY) +1"

3. Valverde (MOV) +13"

4. Rodriguez (KAT) s.t.

5. Contador (TCS) s.t.

6. Sanchez (BMC) +17"

Overall:

1. Contador (TCS) in 71h38'37"

2. Froome (SKY) +1'19"

3. Valverde (MOV) +1'32"

4. Rodriguez (KAT) +2'29"

5. Aru (AST) +3'15"

6. Martin (GRS) +6'52"