Stuyven defies injury to win as Sagan colides with motorbike on day of drama at Vuelta a España

Jasper Stuyven celebrates after winning stage eight of the Vuelta a Espana ©AFP/Getty Images

Belgium's Jasper Stuyven broke clear before sprinting to victory on an incident-packed eighth stage of the Vuelta a España from Puebla de Don Fadrique to Murcia today as the race lived up to its billing of never failing to entertain.

After the mountain-top finish yesterday, today's 182.5 kilometres stage was viewed as a day of relative respite favouring the sprinters rather than the overall contenders.

the race burst into life with 50km to go, however, as American Tejay Van Garderen was one of several big names to crash out of the race in a mass pile-up which also put paid to the prospects of Ireland's Dan Martin - third overall at the start of the day - as well as France's sprinter Nacer Bouhann and Belgium’s Kris Boeckmans.

In the closing kilometres following back-to-back ascents of the Cresta del Gallo climb, Slovakia's stage three winner Peter Sagan was also knocked off his bike in an apparent collision with a neutral race vehicle.

Having vented his frustration at the medical car, Sagan attempted unsuccessfully to rejoin the leaders, sporting several bruises under his heavily ripped shorts.

Colombia's Esteban Chaves fought back to retain his overall lead of 10 seconds ©AFP/Getty Images

Stuyven, the 23-year-old Trek Factory rider, had been involved in the earlier crash, but recovered before holding his nerve amidst the chaos at the end.

He outsprinted Spaniard Pello Bilbao and Frenchman Kevin Reza to claim a first Grand Tour victory, admitting afterwards he had hurt his wrist in the earlier crash.

Colombian Estevan Chaves was also held up in the same incident but fought back on ahead of the two third-category climbs to stay 10 seconds ahead of Dutchman Tom Dumoulin in the overall standings.

Chaves has been in superb form so far but is not expected to hold on to the lead next week, with several of the overall contenders surviving today's drama.

Tour de France winner Chris Froome of Britain finished alongisde the likes of Colombia's Nairo Quintana and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde despite being briefly dropped during a descent, the day after he lost 30 seconds in the overall standings.

Tomorrow's action is due to consist of a 168.3km medium-mountain stage from Torrevieja to Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell.