Bouhanni benefited from a good lead-out work from FDJ.fr team mate and compatriot Geoffrey Soupe putting the 24-year-old in a prime position to launch his final attack with 120 metres to go.

Degenkolb and his Giant-Shimano team mates had no answer to the move leaving Bouhanni in the clear to claim his first career stage win on the Vuelta.

"We worked very hard for this," said Bouhanni, who is set to join Cofidid at the end of the season.

"In the last moment we were in a great position.

"It's a great day, not only for me, but for all of my team.

"You have got to take your chances when you can.

"To get a win on the Vuelta is great.

"Maybe I will win a couple more."

Frances's Nacer Bouhanni led home a bunched sprint finish in San Fernando to take the win on the second stage of the Vuelta a España ©AFP/Getty Images



Spaniard Jonathan Castroviejo began the day in the leader's red jersey and was joined by six of his Movistar team mates on the same time at the top of general classification by virtue of winning yesterday's team time trial by six seconds.

But it was fellow Spaniard and Movistar rider Alejandro Valverde who will wear the red tomorrow after he finished ahead of the rest of his team mates on today's 174.5 kilometres stage from Algeciras.

Valverde comfortably finished in the main peloton that swallowed up a breakaway group of four with 17km to go that included Italian Valerio Conti who picked up maximum points and bonus seconds in both intermediate sprints.

Conti was a late replacement for reigning champion Chris Horner after he had pulled from the face on Friday by the Lampre-Merida team after low cortisol levels were found in his blood.

Experienced Spaniard Alejandro Valverde holds an early lead in the Vuelta a España after the opening two days of the last major race of the season ©AFP/Getty Images



Valverde heads six Movistar riders at the top of the standings who all finished on the same time, including one of the pre-race favourites and Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana of Colombia.

"You always have to be at the front, to avoid crashes or splits in the peloton, and that's why I am taking over the leader's jersey," said 34-year-old Valverde.

"Tomorrow we'll see if we work to defend the lead, or let it go with a breakaway.

"Perhaps there are some teammates who could take over the jersey.

"It's clear Nairo [Quintana] is in good condition, and he'll be better than me in the mountains.

"Now I am in the leader's jersey, so let's enjoy it, and then we'll see what happens in the race."

Team Sky's Chris Froome finished in the peloton in 17th place, leaving the 2013 Tour de France winner 27 seconds off the pace.

Tomorrow's 198km stage takes the riders from Cadiz to Arcos de la Frontera and features four category three climbs with a 50km relatively flat run to the finish.

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August 2014: Castroviejo leads Movistar to time trial victory on opening stage of Vuelta a Espana