In his first ever appearance as the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider,after he was forced to leave the Dutch Belkin team for being a subject of numerous controversies, Luis Leon Sanchez claimed a victory at the first stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo after an aggressive ride in a breakaway.

The huge effort from the riders in the breakaway gave them an advantage of more than 10 minutes over the main group, before Sanchez attacked, followed by five other riders that managed to make a final split. Even though the Eritrean from Team Europcar launched an late attack in a perfect timing 300 meters from the finish line, it was Sanchez who used his experience to outsprint the rest of a field and claim a victory, which he called a "reassuring one".

The Spaniard admitted, that he quickly managed to find his legs despite the tough atmospheric conditions he had to face following the transfer from wintery Europe, and he is satisfied with the way his body responded to those changes.

"It's a reassuring victory for me," the Spaniard said.

"Does that mean I have already found a good feeling despite the strong heat that changes us from the cold in Europe."

After bonuses taken on intermediate sprints, another Spanish rider - Egoitz Garcia of Cofidis, is occupying the leading position of the event with a second ahead of Sanchez and seven Berhane.