Nacer Bouhanni of France has won the second stage of the Volta a Catalunya, adding to his opening stage victory and protecting his overall lead.
The Cofidis rider sprinted ahead of the pack on Tuesday to claim the relatively flat 178.8-kilometre ride from Mataro to Olot in just over four and a half hours.
Gianni Meersman was second followed by Philippe Gilbert.
"The victory is very important for the team," Bouhanni said.
"It's our fourth to start the season and that's a great a way to begin."
Race favourites Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana all finished safely in the pack.
Thomas de Gendt was the last of a small group of four escapees to be caught by the peloton near 12 kilometres from the finish.
An expert sprinter, Bouhanni said he hoped to "get another win after the mountain stages."
On Wednesday the route heads into the mountains, with a 172.1-kilometre ride from Girona to La Molina in the Pyrenees.
Quiet until now, Froome, Contador, Quintana and other top climbers like Joaquim Rodriguez will find terrain suitable to attack Bouhanni's lead.
The week-long race through northeastern Spain finishes in Barcelona on Sunday.
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