The 187km route Rialp to Valls was expected to attract the attention of the sprinters but their hopes of a stage win in the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race were threatened when Team Sky rider Poels formed part of a strong move with 70km to the finish.

Spain’s Carlos Verona, Italy’s Dario Cataldo, Slovenia’s Jan Polanco, Belarus’ Kanstantsin Siutsou and the Belgian trio of Tosh Van der Sande, Gaetan Bille and Frederik Veuchelen also formed part of the breakaway.

Their advantage had reached four minutes with just 40km to race as they approached the second category climb at the Alt de la Lilla.

Poels used the incline to launch his bid for the stage victory, with a lack collaboration between the remnants of the move enabling him to move away.

Despite a last ditch effort to catch the Team Sky rider, Poels held off his rivals to secure the win in a time of 3 hours 59min 03sec.

Astana’s Cataldo crossed the line 11 seconds adrift in second, with Bille and Siutsou awarded the same time in third and fourth.

“I knew the climb from the race last year and that it wasn’t too hard but that it would be my only chance to attack,” said Poels.

“In the last two kilometres I got a bit nervous when it all began to get a bit closer together.

“The corners helped me stayed away, it was better than when you had those long straights like immediately before.”

Colombia’s Nairo Quintana remains in the overall race lead, with the Movistar rider currently seven seconds clear of Spain’s Alberto Contador.

Australia's defending champion Richie Porte occupies third place, 17 seconds behind Quintana.

The penultimate stage tomorrow is due to see the peloton tackle a flat 136km route from Sant Joan Despí to Vilanova i la Geltrú.