The 188.7 kilometres trek from Belorado contained three categorised climbs and an early breakaway group led by the likes of Slovakian Peter Sagan, Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez and Italy's Damiano Cunego moved clear, but the last of these were sucked up with seven kilometres to go.

Contador and his Tinkoff-Saxo team mates were at the head of the peloton and upped the pace to try and string out the field.

However, as they hit the final 2.2km climb, Gianluca Brambilla of Italy decided to go for broke and launched his final assault.

The Omega Pharma - Quick-Step man was quickly followed by Cofidis' Navarro who surged passed Brambilla on the climb.

Navarro's compatriot Daniel Moreno and Dutchman Wilco Kelderman decided to join the party in the closing stages bearing down on Navarro as Brambilla wilted.

But the Spaniard held on to cross the line with two seconds to spare over the chasers to claim the first Grand Tour stage win of his career.

"I had to have a very good position once the peloton grouped together for the last climb," said 31-year-old Navarro.

"From there I just tried to get the victory and it went very well.

"I feel I have achieved my objective and anything more that comes in the rest of the race will feel like a gift."

Alberto Contador remains the man in possession of the red jersey after 13 stages on this year's Vuelta a España ©AFP/Getty Images



Contador remains 20 seconds clear of fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, while there is no change in the rest of the top five in general classification with Colombian Rigoberto Uran in third ahead of Britain's Chris Froome and Spain's Joachim Rodriguez.

"I am leading for another day, but the difference between the riders is very small," said Contador, who claimed he is not feeling any major ill effects from the broken tibia he suffered during July's Tour de France.

"The objective is to be in red again tomorrow.

"It will be a difficult day, not just for the final climb but the one before it.

"I am feeling good and I am very happy with how the leg is developing.

"I am not suffering any problems on the bike."

Tomorrow's 200.8km stage from Santander to Valle de Sabero contains three categorised climbs and another summit finish.

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