Attacking Bernal fourth on queen stage

Egan Bernal put in a tenacious, attacking performance to move up to fifth overall as Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar) escaped the group of favourites to win stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana.

Following a hard stage stage raced in often torrential rain, Bernal was first to attack the general classification group on the fearsome Altu d’El Gamoniteiru summit finish. 

Bernal was able to cause splits in a dwindling group with five kilometres to go before some of his rivals were able to catch him, with Lopez countering with a late move to go clear. 

Sep Kuss (Jumbo Visma) then paced the GC group as Bernal and Yates both regrouped before Bernal launched another attack, this time only Enric Mas (Movistar) and race leader Primoz Roglic could follow. 

Yates battled to limit losses in a chase group behind, as Bernal and Roglic traded accelerations, but the race leader was able to finish second with Mas third as Lopez stayed away to seal the stage victory. 

The result sees Bernal move fifth overall and Yates sixth, with the Colombian moving closer to Jack Haig in fourth with three stages remaining.