A sudden acceleration 600 metres from the finish line in the Alto de Naranco has proved more than enough to power Spain's David De La Cruz into the Vuelta a Espana's limelight, as the Etixx-Quick Step rider secured the first victory of his career in his country's biggest stage race - and the overall race lead to boot.
The 27-year-old Catalan, not known for his climbing talents, will almost certainly lose the lead on Monday's ascent to the Lagos de Covadonga. But for now, he has taken Spain's first win in the Vuelta in 2016, and will spend at least one day atop the general classification, so come what may on Monday his Vuelta already constitutes a huge success.
Running 15th overall at 2:46 on overnight leader Nairo Quintana (Movistar) before Sunday's result, De La Cruz was by far the best rider on GC in the 12-man move that was fighting for the stage win.
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Having seen a flurry of late attacks from the break fail to work out, De La Cruz then went away with one rider, Dries Devenyns (IAM Cycling), a move which could have seen the two carve up the spoils - the stage for the Belgian and the lead for De La Cruz - far more easily than had the entire break reached the line together.
In the event, Devenyns' loss of power in the closing kilometre when De La Cruz jumped away saw the Spaniard claim the stage win and overall lead to boot.
De La Cruz explained that his objectives changed during the stage. "I wanted to get in the break for the leader's jersey, but then seeing the margin we had, it was very tricky.
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