Alejandro Valverde's chances of a sixth podium finish at the Vuelta a España at the age of 39 were greatly enhanced when he launched a furious attack on the summit finish of the Alto de Acebo on stage 15.

Only race leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) was able to follow the Spaniard when the reigning world champion broke away from the leading pack 6km from the summit.

Working together, Roglic attempted to shake off Valverde on the steep cement section leading to the finish, but his acceleration proved fruitless.

However, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), third overall, and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana ProTeam), fourth overall, both lost 40 seconds to Roglic and Valverde, with Valverde consolidating second place overall.

Valverde showed that his form has not waned despite his crash in Saturday's big crash, and even if he cannot shake off Roglic at the moment, a runner-up finish in Madrid is looking increasingly realistic.

"Grandpa, you haven't had the last word yet," one Spanish journalist joked to Valverde at the finish.

"If my time hadn't improved today, that would have been a problem, but I had good legs and I attacked to see what would happen."

"Me and Roglic worked well together. I don't know if he was the strongest.

Valverde was the most impressive of Logric's GC rivals in the second of three summit finishes on stage 14. Valverde's target, however, was not the one ahead of him on GC, but the riders behind him.

"I don't know if I can fight to win the Vuelta outright," said Valverde, who last made the podium in 2014. 'But from now on I'm going for first or second place.'

Valverde also praised teammate Marc Soler, who was waiting to support him on the climb. Unlike in Andorra, where he was angry that Soler, who was leading the stage to support Movistar co-leader Nairo Quintana, dropped back, this time Valverde did his domestique job without the slightest sign of frustration.

"We are getting better and better as we go into the third week and it was a good day for the team.

"OK, I didn't get Logric's time, but the others improved."

Soler did not agree on whether Valverde's pairing with Roglic would allow the Spaniard to settle for second place in Madrid.

"We are fighting for the Vuelta and we will continue to fight for it," Soler said. As Valverde put it, "Grandpa hasn't had the last word yet."