Etixx - Quick-Step rider Gianluca Brambilla finished 25th in a 191.1km Stage 7 of La Vuelta a España, from Jódar to La Alpujarra, which was decided by two riders of an original five-man breakaway that was given a sizeable advantage in the stage.
Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL - Jumbo) won over Ilia Koshevoy (Lampre-Merida), though the gap to the two riders was by 36" or less due to the difficulty of the Category 1 summit finale. Fabio Aru (Astana) attacked out of a splintering peloton, placing 3rd (+29"). Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) was the first to attack, but his move was marked. Several top GC contenders lost contact on the final climb, suffering time losses.
Carlos Verona of Etixx - Quick-Step also finished 39th in the stage.
Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to 182.5km Stage 8, from Puebla de Don Fadrique to Murcia, on Saturday. Though a medium mountain stage with a pancake flat finish, Category 3 Alto de la Cresta del Gallo must be passed twice in the later kilometers.
