SPAIN: Bahrain Victorious rider Damiano Caruso won Sunday’s mountainous ninth stage of the Vuelta a Espana as Primoz Roglic strengthened his grip on the overall lead, coming second ahead of Enric Mas.

Colombian hope Egan Bernal was unable to follow Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic and Movistar’s Mas as the competition stiffened on the upper reaches of a 13.2km ascent to Alto de Velefique.