Australian cyclist Leigh Howard has scored his first win since 2013 in unusual circumstances.
Howard took out the Clasica Almeria in Spain after the race was shorted dramatically because of strong winds.
The 184km race was stopped and re-started several times, with the riders sand-blasted as they rode along the Almeria coast.
Eventually, organisers shortened the race to several laps of a 3.5km circuit.
"The day was very strange and our plans had to change completely - the wind gusts were very strong," Howard said.
"I am lucky to have had such a strong team around me.
"All I had to do was produce my main effort 150 metres from the line."
The race marked the first time that the UCI's new extreme weather protocol was used.
Howard, 26, has made a strong start to the year, also finishing second on January 31 at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Rd race.
Howard was a foundation member at Orica-GreenEDGE, but left the top Australian team at the end of last season to join IAM Cycling.
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