GB's Froome leads Italy's Nibali by one minute 37 seconds
A 149.7km route from Caso. Parque Natural de Redes to Gijon
Belgium's De Gendt wins sprint from select group
Froome retains leader's red jersey
Race ends in Madrid on Sunday
Thanks for following along this Vuelta live text - the report of stage 19 is building here.
We'll be back tomorrow - make sure you join us for the fireworks on the Angliru.
If Chris Froome makes it to the feared summit still in the leader, he will claim the Vuelta title in Madrid on Sunday - we'll also have live coverage of that.
Catch you then. But for now - goodbye.
A few words from Chris Froome, courtesy of the Vuelta website:
"[Alberto] Contador certainly can't be blamed for the lack of trying. In every stage, he's been attacking and today was exactly the same.
"For me, it was about trying to save as much energy as possible for tomorrow and get through the day without much issues, so I'm happy to let the day behind us and focus on tomorrow.
"The Angliru is going to be rude, but it's an explosive and short stage, so we can expect fireworks from the start.
"There's some though climbs before the Angliru. Everybody is tired at this point of the race, but I feel good”
Froome hasn't done it yet, though.
And there is one almighty test left - the feared Alto de l'Angliru, which provides the finish to Saturday's stage 20.
This hors categorie monster has scuppered plenty of contenders before and can see even the best climbers lose minutes, let alone seconds.
Expect plenty of attacks from Froome's rivals, but if he can stave them off, then the Briton will become only the third rider to win the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in the same year.
Image source, VueltaA quick plug for our Vuelta stage-by-stage guide, which picked Thomas de Gendt for victory today.
Not all of our picks were so successful. But we've conveniently replaced them with the tale of how each stage has been won so far.
Give it a gander if you want to know how Froome has been closing on this historic Tour-Vuelta double.
Shots of Chris Froome now on the podium, collecting yet another leader's red jersey.
That was an ideal day for the Briton - his Sky team-mates had very little to do until near the end when they reeled in Alberto Contador.
It wouldn't even have mattered had the Spaniard stayed away, with Froome successfully making all his nearest challengers.
He still holds an advantage of one minute 37 seconds over Italy's Vincenzo Nibali.
More De Gendt: "The last climb was really steep and I had to go full just to keep the wheel of Bob Jungels.
"There were four riders away so I thought I was riding for fifth position but they were only 15 seconds ahead and then they looking at each other on the flat
"We caught on in the last 3km and then it's like poker and I had good cards so I had to go all in when Roche went.
"I know I have a good sprint but didn't know everyone in that group.
"The Bahrain-Merida rider [Ivan Garcia Cortina] was really strong in the sprint but I was on the wheel and, when he launched, I went full and did the sprint of my life."
Thomas de Gendt, speaking to Eurosport: "Today was the last chance for the breakaway - maybe tomorrow but only for the climbers under 65kg and I'm not that.
"We've had a fantastic Vuelta as a team with three victories so today is the cherry on top.
"I've had a good season but now my career is almost finished [by winning a stage in all three Grand Tours]."
That's an extra special victory for Thomas de Gendt - he has now won stages in all three Grand Tours.
Chapeau.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche, speaking to Eurosport: "It was a strange breakaway - as the time gap was going bigger - riders weren't riding because they were protecting their position on GC.
"Coming into the finish, I tried a couple of times but it didn't work.
"The finishing group was full of world-class riders. I thought it would be a good idea to anticipate but riders weren't riding with me - I had Dani Navarro on my wheel for a kilometre and no one came round me.
"Fair play to De Gendt - he's been in the break all year and deserved a win."
Still no Spanish stage win in this Vuelta either, despite Ivan Garcia Cortina going so close.
The home riders have just two chances left to avoid this being only the second Vuelta, after 1996, to feature no Spanish winner.
Alberto Contador on the Angliru? That's the dream scenario for the home crowd tomorrow.
A word for Ireland's Nicolas Roche, who missed out on stage victory after animating the race all day, but does move up to 15th overall by finishing 12 minutes 15 seconds ahead of the main peloton.
So no changes to the top 10 overall after stage 19...
Team Sky, with Chris Froome safely nestled, lead the peloton over the line in Gijon.
The Briton retains the leader's red jersey and a one minutes 37 second-advantage over Italy's Vincenzo Nibali.
Exactly what he was looking for from this stage. Tomorrow is set to be an immense test.
The peloton duly swallow up Contador with 2km to go - the Spaniard drifting back and shaking Froome's hand.
That signals an entente within the peloton, who will now just cruise to the finish line.
Contador's advantage down to 10 seconds into the last 3km.
A commendable effort from the retiring Spaniard but far from the one minutes 18 seconds he needs to move into a podium spot.
He'll be back attacking on the Angliru tomorrow.
Contador has enlisted the help of his team-mate Theuns for the run-in but the gap is coming down.
Team Sky and Team Sunweb are contributing to the chase and are duly reeling the Spaniard in, with 4km to go.
Right, well done Thomas de Gendt, making up for missing out so many times at the Tour de France.
But the race is still on behind - the peloton have around 7km left to go.
Contador has a lead of 23 seconds over the peloton, including Froome.
A sprint from a select group can be a bit of a lottery but Thomas de Gendt just wills himself over the line first.
Ivan Garcia Cortina looked to have it but ultimately went too far out, the Belgian reeling him in and eventually winning by a couple of bike lengths over Jarlinson Pantano in second, with Garica third.
Garcia Cortina goes! The 21-year-old was out front alone but finds something to dig again.
De Gendt kicks in pursuit...