The Spanish INEOS Grenadiers rider will defend the yellow jersey on Sunday with a 7-second lead over second-placed
Aleksandr Vlasov, who was fifth on the day and his BORA - hansgrohe teammate
Florian Lipowitz, third at 9 seconds after coming close to the stage win just behind Richard Carapaz. Due to his collapse, Ayuso has dropped five positions, and is now 27 seconds behind Rodriguez. Enric Mas is sixth, 38 seconds off the lead, with stage winner Carapaz now sitting seventh.
1. Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers)
2. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - hansgrohe): +0:07
3. Florian Lipowitz (BORA - hansgrohe): +0:09
4. Ilan van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step): +0:21
5. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates): +0:27
6. Enric Mas (Movistar Team): +0:38
7. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost): +0:49
8. Lenny Martinez (Groupama - FDJ): +0:52
9. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek): +1:02
10. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers): +1:23