After yesterday's team time trial was declared void in terms of the overall standings due to concerns over the hazardous nature of the course, today marked a competitive baptism of fire for the field as they took on an undulating 159 kilometres challenge from Alhaurin de la Torre to Caminito del Rey.

As is customary at the Vuelta, the stage included two category three climbs including a 4.5km final ascent.

Chaves, the Orica GreenEdge rider who suffered a career-threatening crash in 2013 and whose only previous Grand Tour victory came during the team time trial at this year's Giro d'Italia, was far from daunted.

He chased down a five-man breakaway in the closing stages before overhauling his tiring Dutch rival Tom Dumoulin in the home straight to win by a single second.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche was nine seconds back in third, while fellow countryman Dan Martin placed fourth.

There was more Colombian success for overall contender Nairo Quintana who, after forming part of the late breakaway hung on for sixth place 24 seconds down to claim some vital seconds over Britain's Chris Froome, the only man to finish ahead of him at July's Tour de France. 

Froome was four seconds further back in seventh, while 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali endured a frustrating day.

A high-speed crash with 32km to go held-up two-thirds of the peloton, leading to the withdrawal of Polish veteran Przemyslaw Niemec and Australian David Tanner.

Nibali was among those caught out and although he battle back to catch the peloton with 11km to go after changing his bike, he struggled in the subsequent climb to end up 1min 28sec behind Chaves.

Tomorrow's 158.4km flat stage from Mijas to Málaga should favour the sprinters rather than the overall contenders.

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