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As favourite Nairo Quintana transferred to second in the general classification philippe Gilbert won stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana.
Gilbert was part of a 40-man fracture which benefited to find clear of the peloton.
Irishman Sam Bennett made the jump to go but settled for second with Remi Cavagna thirdparty.
A nice evening for Quintana watched him complete five minutes 19 minutes before pioneer Primoz Roglic to move up to second.
Quintana started the day in seven minutes, sixth and 43 minutes on Roglic, but found himself at the early breakup with the James Knox of Britain and Dutchman Wilco Kelderman.
The Colombian moved ahead of Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde on Wednesday’s 219.6km point in Aranda de Duero to Guadalajara.
The performance of quintana now means that he moves to 24 seconds of the Roglic of Team Jumbo-Visma and within two minutes.
Wednesday’s race was the first after a rest day, with Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart missing on his first stage win in a Grand Tour on Monday since Jakob Fuglsang won point 16.
Phase 18 on Thursday is a mountainous 177.5km ride from Colmenar Viejo to Becerril de la Sierra.
1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) in 4hrs 20mins 15secs
2. Sam Bennett (Ire/Bora-Hansgrohe) at +2secs
3. Remi Cavagna (Fra/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) Same time
4. Dylan Teuns (Bel/Bahrain Merida)
5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Subweb)
6. Jonas Koch (Ger/CCC)
7. Lawson Craddock (USA/EF Education First)
8. Tim Declercq (Bel/Deceuninck-Quick-Step)
9. Silvan Dillier (Sui/AG2R La Mondiale)
10. James Knox (GB/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +6secs
1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) at 66hrs 43mins 36secs
2. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +2mins 24secs
3. Alejandro Valverde (Esp/Movistar) +2mins 48secs
4. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +3mins 42secs
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (Esp/Astana) +3mins 59secs
6. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Sunweb) +5mins 5secs
7. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) +7mins 40secs
8. James Knox (GB/Deceuninck – Quick Step) +8mins 3secs
9. Carl Hagen (Nor/Lotto Soudal)+10mins 43secs
10. Dylan Teuns (Bel/Bahrain Merida) +12mins 21secs
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