Martin wins 9th stage of Vuelta; Mollema leads overall

SIERRA DE BEJAR, Spain — Irish rider Daniel Martin won the ninth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, while Dutchman Bauke Mollema took the overall leader’s jersey from Joaquin Rodriguez by just 1 second.

Martin edged past Mollema to finish the 114-mile mountain course from Villacastin to Sierra de Bejar in 4 hours, 52 minutes, 14 seconds.

The brutal final climb to the finish line tightened the overall standings with Mollema 1 second ahead of Rodriguez and 9 seconds in front of defending champion Vicenzo Nibali.

Monday’s 10th stage is a 29-mile time trial in the medieval city of Salamanca