LAGOS DE COVADONGA, Spain: Ben O’Connor has narrowly retained the red jersey at the Spanish Vuelta, as Primož Roglič made significant inroads into the Australian’s lead during a mountainous stage. Meanwhile, three-time stage winner Wout van Aert has been forced to abandon the race following a crash.

O’Connor crossed the foggy summit finish line on Tuesday, with just five seconds of his lead remaining over three-time Vuelta winner Roglič after a gruelling finish to stage 16 won by Marc Soler.

Roglič started the stage 1 minute, 3 seconds behind O’Connor, whose margin over the Slovenian star had been close to five minutes after winning the sixth stage.

Soler broke clear on the steep final climb to win the 181-km stage from Luanco to the storied Lagos de Covadonga summit by 18 seconds from Filippo Zana. Max Poole was third, trailing 23 seconds behind Soler.

Four minutes behind Soler, Roglič crossed the line with Enric Mas — third overall and now 1 minute, 15 seconds back — as O’Connor trailed trying to limit the damage.

A breakaway of 17 riders including Van Aert had led the peloton by as much as nine minutes and the Belgian star spent time out in front after going clear on a descent.

Wearing the green jersey as leader of the points classification, Van Aert also led the mountains standings when he was among three riders that crashed on a descent of Collada Llomena about 50 km from the finish.

Van Aert tried to continue with cuts and injuries on his right knee but abandoned the race minutes later. He won three of the first 10 stages of the Vuelta.

Stage 17 on Wednesday is a 141.5-km ride from Arnuero with a relatively flat finish into Santander. (AP)