Also going with him is Denis Menchov Thomas Rohregger Alex Ardila Cano Danilo Di Luca Tanel Kangert Serge Pauwels Nico Keinath Iban Mayo Iker Camaño Christoph Mai
This brings Wiggle to the front to chase things down, riding for 10 placed on GC Jaroslav Popovych
or just the fact that they missed the breakaway.
Another GC rider who has disappointed in Walter Pedraza
goes in the next wave.
Though Santander continue to control it, they are struggling to stop the battle of wills as Plaza and Menchov are absolutely determined to get up the road.
It's a real fast start to the day with now UBS aiding Wiggle in the chase.
But after the first sprint that saw Maillet (Nestle) take ahead of Keinath (B&O) and Camano (Webeffect) we see that 14 riders have made our break of the day.
It's a different break to those that we have been used to and with 100 km to go the gap is over eight minutes. The break would have great chances if it wasn't for that monster climb at the end - ever hopeful that Madrazo may grace them with a stage winning chance Vesuvio and Festina are on the front once again.
The third sprint points passes with Rohregger leading over ahead of Keinath and Plaza, these minute time bonuses hardly enough to make up for places on GC. Keinath takes the 3rd category climb, predictably the reluctant points grabber Barredo gets no points here.
In the pack Santander are growing in confidence as the gap to this dangerous break disappears David Arroyo
and Justo Tenorio
reduce it down to less than five minutes.
The break though keep moving purposefully and go into this final 21km climb with a decent 3.30 lead, this is going to take a while to catch.
The early slopes of this big finale are not too bad and it is time for the domestiques to go on the front. Vesuvio's Samwel comes to the front to aid the Santander train.
14km to go and the gap is down under three minutes to the break as Barredo attacks the break.
As the pack reaches this point, a surprise as Madrazo unhappy with another team setting tempo decides to rip this thing up early by attacking.
No-one is confident at following Madrazo as the likes of Serpa (Festina) and Samwel (Vesuvio) look on.
Both teams look resigned to allowing Madrazo to go early, Festina have a fair few riders left and Contador is looking to secure that first Grand Tour podium and Intxausti will probably be happy enough with third too.
The break are beginning to get to some steeper sections as Menchov has led the break back up to Barredo and is now dropping riders like Maiilet and Pecherramon.
As the break gets to the 10km to go banner Camano, Samolilev and Delgado try to attack.
But a shark is in the waters already in the shape of the red jersey of Madrazo who has hammered his way up the early slopes.
The gap back to the Festina/Vesuvio led pack is already nearly two minutes and Madrazo rides smoothly past the break and past the weak break attempt by Camano, Samoilev and Delgado. Plaza and Menchov try to stick with the Spanish sensation.
The other GC favourites are coming to the front of the reducing chasers with Contador at the front being trailed by Intxausti.
Contador has done some damage too as only Valverde, Sella and Samwel can stick with the second best climber in this years Vuelta.
Gomez Marchante looks to bridge across as Samwel drops off the powerful foursome.
Gomez Marchante cannot quite get across but is clear of any of the other GC top ten riders including Machado who seems to be missing out here. Plaza and Menchov meanwhile cannot live with Madrazo is now alone, Keinath and Rohregger join Plaza and Menchive behind.
Pedraza also joins this second group on the road.
6km to go: As Madrazo continues to calmly and smoothly pedal clear, Contador, Valverde and Intxausti come past this five man group. Sella struggles to stay with the three Spanish riders.
The Spanish trio are actually gaining on Madrazo as with 5km to go we can scan back and the big loser of the day seems to be Tenorio who is sitting in the pack.
The groups on the road are:
Medrazo leads
Intxausti, Valverde, Contador at 1.12
Sella, Plaza, Menchov, Pedraza, Keinath, Rohregger, Gomez M at 1.39
Gomez Marchante almost makes it to Sella's wheel but the Italian kicks away as we see Didi the devil.
Contador is also attempting to put distance between himself and Valverde/Intxausti.
We are getting onto the really steep stuff here and the clock had been reducing down for Madrazo but now the Vuelta champion elect is extending his lead once more. The crowd are roaring on the young rider who is showing real panache here albeit perhaps at the expense of his teammates.
Contador is secure in second place on the road and in the race now times at 1.38 with 3km to go. Valverde meanwhile is in a real battle with Sella for 4th on GC, Intxausti over two minutes ahead is just to tough to crack - but Sella is coming back too. Valverde looks to try and keep clear.
Plaza and Pedraza are trying to hold a decent position but now with 2.5km to go Machado leads Popovoch, Abal, Denifl and Arroyo past.
Tenorio is sitting way back in the back, still not making a positive move. Gomez Marchante is two and a half minutes clear of the Santander number two and is just two minutes and five seconds back on GC.
Realising Madrazo is uncatchable Contador has slipped back to Valverde and Intxausti. Valverde is still looking behind to try and keep clear of the pink jersey of Sella.
No issues at all for Madrazo who seems to still be so comfortable even at Bolo del Mundo's high grades, he comes home almost three minutes clear.
Sella looks to keep Valverde in his sights, but time bonuses are going to hurt him. Valverde leads Contador and Intxausti home 30 seconds clear of Sella at least.
It's enough to move Valverde ahead of Sella on GC, though still well off the podium behind Intxausti and Contador. Gomez Marchante comes home in 6th place, pretty certain to jump ahead of Tenorio and clearly far ahead of Abal as the fifth best Spanish rider in the race.
Machado has slipped back in this last week but still has enough to outkick Abal, Popovich and Denifl.
Plaza leads Pedraza and Arroyo home, he battled hard today but was overtaken in the last 2.5km in his battle to get a GC top ten by Popovich and Denifl. Denis Menchove faded pretty badly in the final to finish 15th on the day.
Tenorio comes home 8.48 behind Madrazo well over four minutes down on Gomez Marchante, he has also conceded over three minutes on Abal and so slips back to 9th on GC.
Valls also slips back by one place, but neither will be too unhappy as they will be toasting yet another sensational display by Madrazo.
Stage results
A long flat run in to the climb, meant no-one finished too slowly today to be anywhere near to the cut off point
GC
Madrazo reigns supreme, but teammate Tenorio slips down to 9th on GC. Valverde skips into 4th, if only he had a better TTT he may have got on the podium we still have the question of whether or not he is better than Intxausti lingering.
Youth
Tenorio is comfortably ahead of Denifl and Valls well clear of Kritskiy who was nowhere today. Keinath looked like he could have moved ahead of Marquez but slipped back at the end.
Team
Santander still gained time despite a less than successful team day - that said Madrazo was awesome. UBS were weak but still hold off Pearl Adidas.
