Race leader Michael Albasini won the second stage of the 92nd Volta a Catalunya this afternoon.
Today's stage was 161kms around Girona, an adopted home to many UCI Pro Tour cyclists including Bradley Wiggins.
Cyril Bessy, Julián Sánchez and Jordi Simón managed to escape the clutches of the peloton and were three minutes ahead of the peloton including race leader Michael Albasini.
On a day where temperatures were lower than in Coventry and with snow forecast for tomorrow, Sanchez took the intermediate sprint at Banyoles.
Their day at the front was over with 119kms gone and the peloton then split into two groups. the second contained Allejandro Valverde who had mechanical problems before the race went over the Category 3 l'Alt de la Ganga with Antonio Pedra over first ahead of Michal Goles and Kevin de Weer.
As the stage went through la Bisbal d'Empordà, Bradley Wiggins, wearing his British Champions jersey, got to the front and a bit further up the road, Ireland's Dan Martin who rides for Garmin-Barracuda, took over.
The final climb of the day was the first category l'Alt dels Àngels and saw the likes of Levi Leipheimer and then Damiano Cunego trying to attack, whilst Wiggins lead the charge of the peloton.
Daniel Martin was first over and he, Cunego and Matteo Carrera of Vacansoleil started the descent into Girona.
Instead of going for a win they gave up with just over a kilometre to go and Wiggins went to the front. Race leader Michael Albasini went on the left and won in a time of 3.52.05 ahead of Cataldo and Uran in third.
Valverde who had said that he was going to win the Tour De France finished 2.10 down.
Tomorrow stage is from La Vall d'en Bas to Port-Ainé and is 210.9km long.