American Ben King wins a second stage on the first big summit finish at the Vuelta

Ben King (Dimension Data) soloed to victory and his second stage win from the day's breakaway ahead of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo). Simon Yates grabbed the race lead after Kwiatkowski and Molard were distanced on the final climb

Stage 9 was a long day in the saddle with some big intermediate climbs and a huge finale up the climb of Covatilla.

A group of 11 riders got way in the breakaway; Luis Angel Maté (Cofidis), Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Dylan Teuns (BMC Racing), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Ben King (Dimension Data), Reto Hollenstein (Katusha-Alpecin), Tom Leezer (LottoNL-Jumbo), Luis Mas (Caja Rural), Aritz Bagues (Euskadi-Murias) and Jesus Ezquerra (Burgos-BH).

Their lead went up and up to around 10 minutes.

It wasn't until 40 kms to go that the peloton started to chase.

Meanwhile the breakaway reached the lower slopes of the final climb with 30 kms to go and De Gendt attacked and five riders followed; King, Mollema, Mas, Tuens and Hollenstein.

The peloton, lead by Movistar, turned up the gas even further and the lead started to tumble.

Up ahead Ben King attacked and opened up a lead of 1m 20 secs, behind Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) attacked the rest of the breakaway and went up the climb to chase down King.

The peloton's pace saw Rudy Molard back in the virtual Red Jersey, until 5.5 kms to go, the peloton really upped the pace and the Red Jersey wearer Rudy Molard was dropped putting Valverde in the virtual Red leaders jersey.

Rafal Majka set the pace as they slowly reduced the gap down to 4 minutes with 3.5 km to go.

Mollema slowly reeled King back just 20 seconds with 3 kms to go but King gave everything to win the stage.

Behind most of the big favorites slowly reduced the gap down to around 3 minutes.

In the GC battle, Quintana, Izzaguirre, Kelderman attacked and got a small gap before the line, Kwiatkowski was distanced and Simon Yates grabbed the Red leader's jersey.

Kwiatkowski dropped out of the top ten on GC as a result.

Yates leads by one second ahead of Valverde and 14 secs ahead of Quintana.

Tomorrow is the first rest day.

VIDEO: 2018 La Vuelta Stage 9 Highlights by GCN

For sound, please unmute on play controls.

2018 La Vuelta Stage 9 Top 10

1 Benjamin King (USA) Dimension Data 5:30:38 
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:48 
3 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:02:38 
4 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:02:40 
5 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team   
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb   
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:02:43 
8 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:02:46 
9 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:49 
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:03:02

2018 La Vuelta GC after Stage 9 Top 10

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 36:54:52 
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:01 
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:14 
4 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:16 
5 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:17 
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:24 
7 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:00:27 
8 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:00:32 
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:43 
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:48