The peloton races away from the start in Rioja wine-country...
Carrasco and Rollin are the first to attack...
Carrasco now leads a nine-man escape including Philippe Gilbert and Markel Irizar...
andalucia
Hayden Roulston has quite an audience as he gets a seat-post adjusted behind the race...
shackmechanic
They're laughing now - Movistar sets a decent pace in pursuit, led by Erviti and Lastras...
erviti
Cheng Ji, the only Chinese rider in the World Tour peloton, collects water bottles for his Argos teamates...
argos
"I need a drink as well" - Raymond Kreder looks forlornly for his team-car...
garmin
Green Edge expects quite a lot from Cameron Meyer and Daniel Teklehaimanot in this Vuelta...
green edge
Philippe Gilbert leads the escape through a series of bends - they're sitting on a four-minute lead now...
bmc
Erviti has stopped laughing now - Movistar faces a tough challenge to bring the escape back today...
Zeits and Rolli take the escape up a 3rd-category climb with 50-kilometres to go...
Alberto Contador gets a push from Bjarne Riis after changing to his climbing bike for the finale...
saxo
What a difference a year makes - 2011 winner, Juan Jose Cobo, collects water for his teamates...
movistar
Saxo Bank spark the stage-win fight about three climbs from home...
Team Sky reacts by sending Zandio to the front...
sky
Daniel Navarro tries to wear Sky down as the final climb begins...
Sergio Henao and Chris Froome spark the flame now...
Joachim Rodriguez, Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador have Chris Froome behind them as the climbs rears up...
climbing
Valverde and Rodriguez sprint for the stage-win - and it's a downhill finish..!
sprint
Valverde has rushed to the line, forcing a photo-finish between him and Rodriguez..!
Bauke Mollema and Daniel Moreno lead home a group for 5th-6th places that also contains Andrew Talansky...
Alejandro Valverde has won the stage and becomes the new race-leader of the Vuelta...