Contador holds Vuelta lead

Monte Castrove - Italy's Fabio Aru sprinted to Thursday's 18th stage of the Tour of Spain with Spaniard Alberto Contador holding off Briton Chris Froome to keep the overall race lead.

Astana rider Aru, 24, already winner at altitude on the 11th stage at San Miguel de Aralar, benefitted on the final sprint from the support of Sky team leader Froome, who clawed back a few seconds on Contador to take second place in the overall standings from Alejandro Valverde.

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, withdrew for family reasons.

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