Nacer Bouhanni put the disappointment of a time penalty firmly behind him to claim a third Vuelta a Espana stage win of his career in San Javier on Thursday.
Bouhanni was docked 30 seconds by race officials for an illegal feed on stage five, despite reports suggesting it had been related to a clash with his Cofidis directeur sportif.
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There appeared to be no hangover heading into the 155.7 kilometres from Huercal-Overa, the Frenchman timing his sprint finish to perfection to pip Danny Van Poppel, Elia Viviani, Simone Consonni and Matteo Trentin on the line.
Trentin made the first move for the stage win in the final kilometre but his decision proved costly, while Viviani was unable to grab a second win of the 2018 race.
Instead it was Bouhanni who held off the challengers to dip for the line first to seal a sixth Grand Tour stage success.
His victory did little to affect Rudy Molard's overall lead, however like Bouhanni he too was docked seconds after taking a bottle from his team car inside the final 20 kilometres on Wednesday.
Molard's lead therefore stands at 41 seconds from Michal Kwiatkowski and Emanuel Buchmann.
PACE-SETTER PORTE
Richie Porte endured another miserable Tour de France last month but stage six proved to be a boost in his final Grand Tour with BMC Racing.
The Australian – who will move to Trek-Segafredo in 2019 – was a surprise member of the three-man breakaway with Luis Angel Mate and Jorge Cubero but showed his fitness is returning with an impressive showing.
He may have been dragged back into the peloton late on, but his efforts over the opening 115 kilometres will have done much to lift his morale.
STAGE RESULT
1. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) 3:58.35
2. Danny Van Poppel (Team LottoNL-Jumbo)
3. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
4. Simone Consonni (UAE-Team Emirates)
5. Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton Scott)
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Rudy Molard (FDJ) 22:26.15
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) +0.14s
3. Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0.48s
Points Classification
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) 48 points
2. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) 41 points
3. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 33 points
King of the Mountains
1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) 42 points
2. Pierre Rolland (EF Education First – Drapac) 20 points
3. Benjamin King (Dimension Data) 12 points
UP NEXT
The peloton moves inland on stage seven as the route meanders from Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcon, with the 182km including two catergorised climbs on an undulating day that is likely to see another sprint finish.
