LA CAMPERONA, Spain -- Ryder Hesjedal of Canada won a mountainous 14th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday, while Alberto Contador held onto the red leader's jersey for a fourth straight day.
Hesjedal, a former Giro d'Italia winner riding for Garmin Sharp, edged Oliver Zaugg in the final meters of the summit ascent to claim the 201-kilometer (125-mile) ride from Santander to La Camperona featuring two category-one climbs. He finished the grueling stage in 5 hours, 18 minutes, 10 seconds.
Contador increased his lead to 42 seconds over nearest rival Alejandro Valverde, who finished 22 seconds behind the five-time grand tour winner.
Chris Froome responded to attacks by Valverde and Contador to surge forward over the final kilometer with only Joaquim Rodriguez able to keep pace among the rivals. Froome managed to claw seven seconds away from Contador and is now third in the general classification, but the Spanish leader still commands a gap of 1 minute, 13 seconds over the British rider.
Rodriguez trails Contador by 1:29, while Colombian Rigoberto Uran fell from third place to fifth, 2:07 behind.
Peter Sagan of Slovenia withdrew from the race during the stage.
Sunday's 15th stage is a 152-kilometer (94-mile) ride from Oviedo to the Lagos de Covadonga special-category peak.
The 21-stage races ends in Santiago de Compostela on Sept. 14.
