Michal Kwiatkowski of the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team took over the race lead when he rode to victory in the second stage of the Vuelta Ao Algarve.
A 196km stage from Lagoa to Monchique saw Arnaud Démare (FDJ), Alexandre Pichot (Europcar) and Florian Senechal, make the first break of the day.
After eighty three kilometres, their lead was at 3.17 but they were caught ten kilometres later and César Fonte (Radio Popular), Luis Afonso (Aluminios-Antarte) and Volter Pereia (Banco Bic-Carmin) took over.
With Fonte only a second down on general classificiation, there was no way that he was going to be left out front and their time out front lasted until there was 54kms remaining thanks to work from the Lampre and Omega Pharm Quick Step team.
The peloton stayed together until twenty four kilometres to go when Pello Bilbao (Caja Rural), taking an eight second lead after Tony Martin was dropped.
On the final climb with three kilometres to go, Michal Kwiatkowski of the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team attacked. TInkoff Saxo's Alberto Contador and Lampre's Rui Costa tried to follow but the Polish rider was away and won the race in 4.57.58 ahead of Costa and Contador.
Kwiatkowski now leads the race with a six second margin from Costa and Contador, followed by Prades, Geniez, Chernetski and Horner.