SIMON Yates moved up to eighth place overall in the Vuelta a Espana after finishing ninth in a punishing 10th stage of the grand tour up to the Lagos de Covadonga.

Colombian Nairo Quintana moved into the red jersey after attacking early in the day's final climb and winning the stage by 24 seconds.

Briton Chris Froome, who is aiming to become the first man in 38 years to win the Vuelta and the Tour de France in the same season, was dropped from the leading group by the initial attack, but set his own pace up the mountain and relentlessly reeled in all bar two of the other riders to finish third.

The 31-year-old Team Sky rider lost 25 seconds to Quintana on the day and is now 58 seconds behind his rival in third place overall, one second behind Alejandro Valverde in second place.

Yates, meanwhile, lost 1min 9secs on the day and is 3:06 back in the general classification, although his main role in the race is to support ORRICA-BikeExchange team-mate Esteban Chaves in his bid for the red jersey. Chaves is fourth overall, 2:09 behind Quintana.