The battle for the 2015 Vuelta a España continued to rage on yesterday’s 19th stage of the race, with race leader Tom Dumoulin attacking on a cobbled climb inside the final three kilometres and doubling his advantage to six seconds over Fabio Aru (Astana).

First to the line in Avila was the Frenchman Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale), who broke clear from the day’s breakaway to take his biggest win.

Dumoulin’s time gain could have been even greater had the race jury penalised the Astana team after Luis Leon Sanchez gave Aru a hand sling after the Dutchman attacked. The manoeuvre, which saw Sanchez propel Aru after his rival, could have resulted in a time penalty but instead the team received a warning.

Saturday is the final mountain stage and Aru needs to gain seven seconds if he is to win the race on Sunday.

Elsewhere British rider Grace Garner (RST Racing) picked up her second stage win in three days when she won a bunch sprint at the end of a waterlogged third stage in the An Post Rás na mBan.

Lydia Boylan was best of the Irish in fourth and is also fourth overall behind the general classification leader Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen (Rytger).