Wout van Aert claimed his third victory at the Vuelta a Espana after being in a long-range breakaway on stage 10.
The Belgian Visma-Lease a Bike rider was part of an early group to escape the peloton just over 30km into the 160km run from Ponteareas to Baiona.
And he surged away from France’s Quentin Pacher at the finish, the two having gone clear just before the final climb of the day on the Alto de Mougas.
“It was my aim to be in the breakaway,” he said. “I had a hard time to be honest on the first climb. I actually almost gave up.
“I have a versatile profile and when I end up in a situation like this, I always have a chance.”
Australia’s Ben O’Connor retained the overall lead on a relaxed day in the general classification race, with the main favourites all coming home together five-and-a-half minutes down on Van Aert.
On Wednesday, that battle is likely to reignite as the race travels 166.5km on rolling terrain containing short and steep climbs, that starts and finishes in the city of Padron.
Stage 10 results
1. Wout van Aert (Bel/Visma – Lease a Bike) 3hrs 50mins 47secs
2. Quentin Pacher (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +3secs
3. Marc Soler (Spa/UAE Team Emirates) +2mins 01secs
4. William Lecerf (Bel/Soudal-Quick-Step) Same time
5. Juri Hollmann (Ger/Alpecin-Deceuninck)
6. Txomin Juaristi (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) +5mins 13secs
7. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu/Ineos Grenadiers) +5mins 31secs
8. Stefan Kung (Swi/Groupama-FDJ) Same time
9. George Bennett (Nzl/Israel-Premier Tech)
10. Harold Tejada (Col/Astana – Qazaqstan Team)
General classification after stage 10
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) 40hrs 05mins 54secs
2. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) +3mins 53secs
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +4 mins 32secs
4. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +4 mins 35secs
5. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +5 mins 17secs
6. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull Bora-hansgrohe) +5mins 29secs
7. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) +5mins 30secs
8. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) Same time
9. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +6mins 00secs
10. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +6mins 32secs