Luka Mezgec of Giant Shimano took his third stage win of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya with victory in the fifth stage in Valis.
The longest stage of this race in North East Spain saw a 218.2km stage from Llanars Vall de Camprodon to Valls, with Katusha's Joaquim Rodriquez protecting a four second lead over Alberto Contador.
Serry, Zeits, Koch, Haga, Beppu and Taciak were all involved in the first attack of the day but after nineteen kilometres they had been brought back.
The next attack came after 57kms and saw eight riders in Earle, Kruijswijk, Burghardt, Roy, Rolland, Preidler, Madrazo and Owsian, succeed in taking 2.30 on the peloton before Burghardt and Preidler rode off.
This duo were two minutes clear after 92kms of the chasers and now 8.45 ahead of the peloton. That extended to three minutes and 7.30 with 110kms to go.
Their lead was still three minute and five minutes on the peloton, some sixty kilometres later and stayed that way until the hammer went down by Cannondale and Lampre and all the escapers were caught with 27kms to go.
Into the final fifteen kilometres and Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Sharp attacked.before being passed a kilometre later by Lieuwe Westra of Omega Pharma Quick Step.
Fuglsang went solo but going into the final three kilometres everyone was back together, so Hesjedal tried to attack again but up came the sprinters and Luka Mezgec of Giant Shimano won his third stage of this race in 5.16.00 ahead of Alaphilippe, Dumoulin, Martens, Kreder, Contador, Yates, Reza, Van der Sande and Vigano.
Joaquim Rodriquez continues to lead the race by four seconds from Alberto Contador
After the stage, Megzec said to the Giant Shimano press office: “During the stage I didn’t think it was going to happen as my legs felt empty – I think it was because of the cold yesterday.
“With Georg up the road we could concentrate on getting over the climb. The guys stuck with me and when I heard that there was a head wind the otherside I got a confidence boost and knew that it would slow.
“I went all out and got over the top with the main group, then the guys started to control the bunch.
“In the final kilometre Warren Barguil (FRA) set me up, putting me near the front. I knew that I needed to be near but not right at the front into the last corner and that worked out well.
“It’s great that even with a young team out here we can play such a big part in this race.”
“It was a fantastic display from the team here today. Everyone played their part and overall it worked out easier than the previous stage wins.
“We wanted to get a guy in the break so that we didn’t need to chase today. Firstly Chad Haga got in the early move but the pace was too high. Georg managed to break the elastic and ended up with just one other out front.
“Having him out front made the job easy behind. It all come back together in the final 30km and from there we took control. Warren Barguil did a great lead-out and Luka once again finished it off.”