Thibaut Pinot claimed his fourth Grand Tour stage win and 23rd career victory at the Vuelta a Espana to put the health problems he suffered at the Giro d'Italia fully behind him.
Pinot was forced to abandon the opening Grand Tour of 2018 due to fever and dehydration and was taken to hospital following stage 20.
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The Frenchman did return to action until the Tour of Poland last month and his win on stage 15 in Spain - which means he has won a stage at all three Grand Tours - confirms he is back to his best.
Pinot made his move on the final climb atop the Lagos de Covadonga as the general classification contenders vied for position.
Nairo Quintana and Simon Yates both tried their own attacks but it was Pinot who made it stick, the FDJ rider able to get a small cushion.
In the end the 28-year-old finished the foggy ascent with a 28-second advantage from Miguel Angel Lopez, while Yates was a couple of seconds further adrift.
The bonus seconds that come with Yates' third-place finish saw him extend his lead in the GC classification, the Briton moving 26 seconds clear after he managed to distance Alejandro Valverde at the end of another gruelling mountain stage.
YATES FEELING CONFIDENT
With six stages remaining Yates, for the second time this year, is well placed to claim his first Grand Tour victory.
However, his experience at the Giro - when he lost the lead with three stages to race - will ensure he takes nothing for granted.
But the 26-year-old feels good heading into the rest day and is confident he can challenge for top spot on the podium in Madrid next weekend.
"I feel good and if I can hold the same form and the same legs, then I'll be very happy," he said.
"I'm looking forward to the rest day and then we'll prepare for the time trial and the rest of the race."
STAGE RESULT
1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) 5:01.49
2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) +0.28s
3. Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) +0.30s
4. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +0.32s
5. Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) +0.32s
CLASSIFICATIONS
General Classification
1. Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 64:13.33
2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +0.26s
3. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +0.33s
Points Classification
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 115 points
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) 83 points
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) 71 points
King of the Mountains
1. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) 64 points
2. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) 57 points
3. Benjamin King (Team Dimension Data) 56 points
UP NEXT
After three successive days in the mountains the peloton get a well-deserved rest on Monday, with the race resuming on Tuesday with an individual time trial from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.
