After winning the sixth stage last week, Venezuelan Jose Rujano was also successful in stage eight of the Vuelta a Colombia.
The 120km stage with start in Rionegro, crossed through the city of Medellin to end on top of the Alto del Escobere. Rujano jumped away at the right moment and gained more than three minutes over Cesar Salzar, who finished in second place.
Freddy Montaña, Javier Gonzalez and Santiago Botero completed the stage top five.
Rujano, riding for team Gobernacion del Zulia, already occupied the top spot but now extends his lead to almost four minutes over Montaña of Boyaca es para Vivirla. Santiago Botero (Indeportes Antioquia) remains in third place.
On Tuesday, Rujano gets to defend his lead in stage nine from Itagui, just below Medellin, to Manizales. Shortly before the finish, the riders face a 1st-category climb which could well shake up the classification once again.