Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome closes on tour lead

Cannondale rider Alessandro de Marchi takes victory in stage seven on the Vuelta a Espana

Chris Froome moved to within 20 seconds of the lead as he recovered from an early crash during stage seven at the Vuelta a Espana.

Briton Froome crashed just before the first categorised climb in the 169km stage, but recovered despite requiring a bike change and medical treatment.

Alessandro de Marchi took the stage victory leading a four-man breakaway

Red jersey holder Alejandro Valverde's lead over team-mate Nairo Quintana was cut to 15 seconds.

Froome's fall left the Team Sky rider requiring bandaging to his right arm, but former Tour de France winner told Team Sky's website he was fine. "I'm feeling okay, but you definitely get the feeling that when bad luck comes it comes more than once.

"But all things considered I'm feeling all right and I think I got off relatively unscathed."

Saturday's stage will be 208km taking the riders from Bazea to Albacete.

Stage seven results:

1. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita/Cannondale) 4:01:52"

2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin) +1:34"

3. Hubert Dupont (Fra/AG2R) +1:35"

4. Johann Tschopp (CH/IAM Cycling)

5. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/BMC Racing) +2:17"

6. Daniel Martin (Ire/Garmin)

7. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +2:18"

8. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +2:20"

9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar)

10. Alberto Contador (Spa/Tinkoff - Saxo)

Overall classification after stage seven:

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) 26:52:20"

2. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +15"

3. Alberto Contador (Spa/Tinkoff - Saxo) +18"

4. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +20"

5. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica) +41"

6. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +45"

7. Robert Gesink (NED/Belkin) +55"

8. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +58"

9. Warren Barguil (Fra/Giant) +1:02"

10. Wilco Kelderman (NED/Belkin) +1:06"