Urko Berrade makes late break to take Vuelta stage victory

Spain's Urko Berrade won the 18th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday with a late breakaway in the Basque hills as Australian Ben O'Connor kept the red leader's jersey.

The northern Spanish terrain proved challenging, with a leading group of 13 riders still together up the final serious ascent before the last 40km to the finish line just outside the village of Maeztu.

Most of the leading group stuck together as they waited for an opportunity to make a late breakaway and Berrade seized his chance on the last climb with less than 5km to go.

Switzerland's Mauro Schmid secured second place and Spaniard Pau Miquel Delgado came third.

O'Connor maintained his five-second lead in the overall standings over Slovenian Primoz Roglic as the pair once again crossed the line together among a large group.

Corkman Eddie Dunbar was 39th for Team Jayco Alula and is up to 13th in the general classiciation. Co Tyrone's Darren Rafferty (EF Education-Easypost) is 74th overall.