Chris Froome produced a climbing masterclass on the fourth day of the Ruta del Sol to take the stage win and leap to the top of the overall standings.

Froome bided his time brilliantly on the final climb of the day, and watched Peter Kennaugh and Mikel Nieve fire off the front before letting rip himself in the last kilometre and emerging triumphant with a 29-second cushion over the second-placed Alberto Contador.

That result saw Froome take control of the leader’s and King of the Mountain jerseys and open up a two-second advantage over Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) heading into the final day of action.

If that wasn’t enough, Nieve battled on for third place on the stage – moving him up to fourth overall – and Team Sky extended their lead at the top of the team classification.

“I’m absolutely blown away to have pulled that off at the end there,” Froome told TeamSky.com immediately after the podium presentation.

“I came into this race thinking that ‘I’m here to find my legs, test them, and see where I’m at’. To have been able to win the stage and go into the race lead today is incredible.

“My team-mates rode exceptionally to set it up. They made the race as hard as possible on the last climb, attacking and really setting it up for me.”

Cold and rainy conditions had made for a pedestrian start to the stage and it took over 50km before a seven-man breakaway established themselves at the head of affairs.

Team Sky reacted quickly back in the bunch, and it was only when the escape group splintered that their lead was allowed to stretch above the four-minute mark.

Tinkoff-Saxo assumed pace-setting duties as the stage wore on, and Mirko Selvaggi (Wanty-Gobert) hit the final climb as the lone survivor after dropping Simon Geschke (Giant-Alpecin) in the last 8km.

Nicolas Roche and Kennaugh worked their way to the fore as the road ramped upwards, and both riders produced huge turns on the front to sweep the Italian up with the flamme rouge in sight.

Nieve then lit the blue touch paper before Froome – wearing the blue points jersey – rounded off the stage in devastating style.

The race culminates on Sunday with a 500-metre ramp averaging almost 15% in gradient, and Froome insists the stage is delicately poised heading into the final day of action.

He added: "That situation's great for the race, and great for the fans. It's turning into a great dual between myself and Alberto. Yesterday he came out on top, and today it was me. I’m really happy with that, and how my team are riding. The new guys have integrated well and everyone’s got the bit between their teeth.

"This race is not over until it’s over though. In the last few years I’ve learnt that Alberto never gives up and there’s a steep ramp at the end tomorrow which will decide things once and for all."