MONTE CASTROVE, Spain: Italy’s Fabio Aru sprinted to victory in Thursday’s 18th stage of the Tour of Spain as Briton Chris Froome closed in on overall race leader Alberto Contador of Spain.

Astana rider Aru, already winner at altitude on the 11th stage at San Miguel de Aralar, benefited on the final sprint from the support of Sky team leader Froome, who clawed precious seconds from Contador to take second place in the overall standings from Alejandro Valverde.

Froome, the 2013 Tour de France winner, is now 1min 19sec behind red jersey holder Contador, the 2008 and 2012 winner, with three stages to go.

The 31-year Contador let potentially vital seconds slip as he played a game of poker with Movistar’s Valverde and Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez, allowing them to assure the pursuit of Froome in the final kilometers.

“When Froome attacked, I decided to leave the responsibility to Alejandro (Valverde) because he was second in the overall standings,” explained Contador.

“I knew that the difference was going to be minimal at the finish because the final two kilometers were easier. I lost time but I hope it won’t be a problem.”

The Spaniard could however face a challenge to his bid for a third Vuelta title especially during Saturday’s difficult climb to the summit of Col d’Ancares and Sunday’s time-trial at Santiago de Compostela.

The 24-year-old Aru, fifth in the overall standings, attacked late and was given a boost when he was joined by Froome to coast to victory.

“It’s incredible,” said the Italian.

“My energy isn’t the same after 18 stages but I’d really prepared for the Vuelta. It’s the first time that I’ve raced here, I like the route and hope to come back.”

Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara (Trek), Dutchman Robert Gesink (Belkin) and Belgian Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma) all pulled out of the race before the 157km stage from A Estrada.

Gesink, who had been seventh in the overall standings before the stage in northwestern Galicia, withdrew for family reasons.

Boonen and former Olympic time-trial champion Cancellara left to prepare for the world road race championships in Ponferrada, Spain later this month.

Friday’s 19th stage covers 180.5km between Salvaterra do Mino and Cangas do Morrazo and includes two second category climbs.

Austrian Brandle takes Tour of Britain’s fifth stage

Austria’s Matthias Brandle won stage five of the Tour of Britain on Thursday, but overall leader Michal Kwiatkowski maintained his grip on the yellow jersey.

Brandle of IAM Cycling held his nerve to emerge victorious from a four-man breakaway alongside MTN-Qhubeka’s Andreas Stauff, Belkin’s Maarten Wynants and Shane Archbold of An Post-Chainreaction.

The decisive moment of the 177.3-kilometer route from Exmouth came on the drag into Exeter up Stoke Hill, with Brandle turning on the power to win by eight seconds from second-placed Archbold, who beat Wynants in a two-up sprint, while Bardiani CSF’s Sonny Colbrelli led the peloton in 14secs behind in fourth.

Team Sky’s Ben Swift was fifth, with Poland’s Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) seventh and defending champion Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) 36th.

Wiggins remained sixth overall, 27secs behind Kwiatkowski, ahead of Friday’s sixth stage, the 205.6km from Bath to Hemel Hempstead.

The day’s racing included an ascent of Haytor on Dartmoor, but it was the last moments that provided the most drama.

Garmin-Sharp initially led the pursuit on the run-in into Exeter, before the other teams with overall contenders shared the workload and set the stage for Brandle’s charge to the finish line.