Team Sky's Danny Van Poppel has won the opening stage of the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain.
There was glorious weather for this 158km stage from Sasamon to Melgar and a race which attracted a good number of World Tour teams including Team Sky and Tinkoff who started with Alberto Contador.
Seven riders in Belkov, Van Gestel,j. Irizar,Torres, Tusvell, Van Van Rensburg and Schultz got away early and were 2.15 ahead after 56kms and 1.40 with 47kms to go.
The seven stayed away until there was twelve kilometres to go and Merino took over on the front getting 19 seconds clear.
However, this was a stage for the sprinters and he was reeled in along with Gianni Meersman and Paulinho who also briefly led and it was Danny Van Poppel of Team Sky who took the win in 3.32.04 ahead of Jempy Drucker of BMC, Gianni Meersman, Wouter Wippert and Steele Van Hoff of British team ONE Pro Cycling.