Florian Sénéchal, left, took over from Fabio Jakobsen and earned a first stage win at a Grand Tour ©Getty Images

Florian Sénéchal picked up the first Grand Tour stage win of his career as Deceuninck-QuickStep won the 13th stage of the Vuelta a España - although not through the intended rider.

The largely flat 203.7-kilometre ride from Belmez to Villanueva de la Serena favoured sprinters and Deceuninck-QuickStep's plan was to propel Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen - in the green jersey - to victory.

However, when Jakobsen proved unable to follow in the wake of the Deceuninck-QuickStep train, France's Sénéchal was vaulted into the spotlight and duly delivered.

Sénéchal held off Italy's UAE Team Emirates rider Matteo Trentin, dipping to reach the line first.

Both were given a time of 4 hours 58min 23sec.

Most of the leading riders in he general classification - including leader Odd Christian Eiking, Cofidis Frenchman Guillaume Martin and two-time defending champion Primož Roglič were 11 seconds back.

Norway's Eiking, riding for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, therefore maintains a 58-second advantage over Martin.

Roglič, of Slovenia and Jumbo-Visma, is 1min 56sec back.

Tomorrow's stage concludes with the brutal, 14.5km climb up Pico Villuercas, so could play a big role in deciding the overall race winner.