Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome remains third as Jonas Van Genechten wins stage

Froome won his third Tour de France in July

Britain's Chris Froome remains third in the Vuelta a Espana as Belgian Jonas Van Genechten won stage seven.

Van Genechten sprinted home first in the 158.5km stage from Maceda to Puebla de Sanabria with Daniele Bennati second and Alejandro Valverde third.

Froome was caught up in a crash inside the final kilometre but was awarded the same time as his rivals.

The Team Sky rider was unhurt in the incident and remains 32 seconds behind race leader Darwin Atapuma of Colombia.

Spain's Valverde, who began the stage in second, closed the gap to Atapuma by four seconds thanks to the bonus seconds earned with his third-place finish.

Froome is aiming to become the first man in 38 years to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same season.

Stage seven result:

1. Jonas Van Genechten (Bel/IAM Cycling) 3hrs 55mins 44secs

2. Daniele Bennati (Ita/Tinkoff) same time

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar)

4. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/BMC Racing)

5. Kevin Reza (Fra/FDJ)

6. Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu/AG2R)

7. Gianni Meersman (Bel/Etixx-Quick-Step)

8. Kristian Sbaragli (Ita/Dimension Data)

9. Romain Hardy (Fra/Cofidis)

10. Tosh Van der Sande (Bel/Lotto)

General classification after stage seven:

1. Darwin Atapuma (Col/BMC Racing) 25hrs 41mins 5secs

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +24secs

3. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +32secs

4. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +38secs

5. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica) same time

6. Samuel Sanchez (Spa/BMC Racing) +1min 7secs

7. Leopold Koenig (Cze/Team Sky) +1min 12secs

8. Peter Kennaugh (GB/Team Sky) +1min 14secs

9. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita/Etixx-Quick-Step)+1min 22secs

10. Simon Yates (GB/Orica) +1min 28secs