Spanish rider Joaquin Rodriguez took over the Spanish Vuelta leader's jersey from Sylvain Chavanel after winning the eighth stage yesterday.

The Katusha team rider broke away from the pack on a brutal 20-degree final climb to finish the 177-kilometre course from Talavera de la Reina to San Lorenzo de El Escorial in 4 hours, 49 minutes, 1 second for his second stage win of this year's race

Chavanel, who had led for the previous four stages, fell behind on the last section and ended the day a full minute behind Rodriguez in eighth place overall.

Rodriguez's teammate Daniel Moreno was second overall at 32 seconds behind, while defending champion Vicenzo Nibali was 45 seconds off the pace.

"I knew the final part of the stage because I came to see it with Dani Moreno in July and I am very excited to win here," said Rodriguez, adding that his team had been superb.

For the second consecutive day, a small group of riders escaped early, establishing a six-minute advantage, before being caught by the peloton in the final minutes.

United States rider Tyler Farrar and Michal Golas of Poland both abandoned the Vuelta yesterday due to injuries suffered in the pile-up provoked by Farrar's fall just metres before the finish line of the seventh stage.

Golas received 17 stitches in his face.

"Tonight I didn't sleep more than an hour and the only thing I can do in this situation is to go home," Golas told Spanish news agency Europa Press. "My wife is a doctor, so I will be in good hands."

Spanish rider Oscar Freire, of Rabobank, also abandoned the race after experiencing chest pains.

Today's ninth stage is a 183-kilometre mountain course from Villacastin to Sierra de Bejar.