LOS MACHUCOS: Chris Froome’s Vuelta a Espana lead was cut by 42 seconds to 1min 16sec over Vincenzo Nibali as Austrian Stefan Denifl claimed a memorable win on Wednesday’s 17th stage. Denifl attacked out of a breakaway with five kilometres to go to hold off a brave chase by Alberto Contador to win a brutal, mountainous 180.5km stage from Villadiego Los Machucos in 4hr 48min 52min. Contador was 28sec back to aid his chances of making the general classification podium with Colombia’s Miguel Angel Lopez 1min 04sec down in third. Froome has looked assured in his bid to become just the third rider to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same year. But he seemed to pay for his efforts in winning Tuesday’s time trial as he cracked on the final climb and couldn’t stay with Nibali. The Italian finished alongside Lopez in fourth with Froome down in 14th. “I paid a little bit for yeaterday’s effort for sure, but I am still in a fantastic position,” said Froome. “Still over a minute to second place, so it’s a good buffer and I’m confident about the next few days ahead.” The Briton has three more competitive stages to defend his lead before Sunday’s traditional parade around Madrid with the queen stage up the Alto de l’Angliru still to come on Saturday. “If you include yesterday, this is a five-day block now,” added Froome. “I’m taking it one day at a time, knowing that stage 20 is going to be the hardest day of this block. “Certainly any effort yesterday, today, it’s all going to compound up into stage 20 in the grand finale up Angliru. “Otherwise, I’m feeling good, optimisitc about what lies ahead. ‘Enjoy it to the max’: Denifl’s win is by a distance the biggest in Irish team Aqua Blue Cycling’s short history. Aqua Blue needed an invite to take part in the race in their first year as a professional team and also had to overcome the misfortune of their team bus being hit by an arson attack earlier in the event. “It’s been an amazing year for our team,” said Denifl. “In the first year in pro cycling we are here at the Vuelta and winning a stage, it is perfect.” Denifl was part of an early six-man breakaway and stayed out in front of the general classification favourites despite immense pressure from Contador in the final stages. The Spanish veteran didn’t get the stage win he desired in his final race before retirement. However, Contador, a three-time Vuelta winner, is now just 1min 21sec down on Wilco Kelderman in the battle for the podium as he remains fifth overall. “It was a shame not to get the stage win for the team and the fans, but there are still three hard days to come,” said Contador. “I have four days left as a professional cyclist and I’m going to enjoy it to the max.” The terrain eases slightly for the 169km 18th stage from Suances to Santo Toribio de Liebana on Thursday. Published in Daily Times, September 7th 2017.