Gianni Meersman of Etixx Quick Step took the win on the second stage of the Vuelta a España.
Stage two was from Ourense to Balona and the riders which included race leader Peter Kennaugh of Team Sky in the red jersey, took on a 160.8km stage.
After five kilometres, Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon18) and Laurent Pichon (FDJ) escaped and were joined by Brian Naulleau (Direct Energie).
With twenty kilometres gone, they had a lead of 2.15 over the peloton which had Team Sky on the front, controlling things.
The trio did get over four minutes ahead but with 105kms left, the gap was down to 2.01 as they started on the Alto de Fontefria category three climb which Pichon took to put himself in the blue and white polka dot KOM jersey.
The gap on a lovely sunny day, was steady at 2.32 before it came down to 28 seconds with 36kms left when Philippe Gilbert, who is joining Etixx Quick Step, attacked out of the peloton and caught the escapers.
Going into the final twenty one kilometres of the stage, the gap was at eighteen seconds and then at seventeen as Gilbert, who started the day seven seconds down on Kennaugh, took the day's intermediate sprint with just over eighteen kilometres to go.
Two kilometres later and the break for the day was ended. Tiego Machado who rides for Katusha who will have Tony Martin for next season, put in an attack.
He was caught by the sprint trains who were dealing with the street furniture with one island causing a crash with 2.4kms left with Sergey Lagutin of Katusha hitting the deck.
Under the flam rouge and Tyler Farrar was on the front. Etixx Quick Step got riders up the front in a brutal finish which saw another crash with Ryan Anderson and it was Gianni Meersman who took the win in 4.16.39 ahead of Michael Schwarzmann of Bora Argon 18 and Magnis Cort Neilson of Oric Bikeexchange, followed by Kwiatkowski, van Genechten, Sbaragli, Bonifazio, Restrepo, Drucker and Manzin.
Michael Kwaitkowski of Team Sky is the new race leader.
Gianni Meersman said: "I really happy. "La Vuelta was my big goal for the season.
"I told my wife please watch the tv as I feel good today and this win is for my wife and my daughter.
"I was really planning for this stage and I have to thank the team also."
Source: DSG
