Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team riders Dario Cataldo and Serge Pauwels entered into a breakaway of 16 riders in the 149.2km Stage 14 of La Vuelta a Espana, and battled to remain in the break until the final climbs.
As seven riders were left after reaching the summit of Category 1 Alto Folgueiras de Algas, Alberto Losada (Katusha Team) decided to attack the break. As Losada gained about a minute and a half on the charging peloton, led by Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank in support of their GC contender Alberto Contador, Cataldo and Pauwels were reeled in along with the rest of the break.
Losada was eventually also caught well before the mountain top finish of Category 1 Puerto de Ancares — 9.5km, with an average gradient of 8.1% and ramps of 13 percent.
A select group emerged approaching the finish line of all the top GC contenders. Contador was the first to attack, but it was GC leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha Team) who eventually caught and dropped Contador in the final meters for the stage victory. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was 3rd.