Rein Taaramae delivered an impressive performance when he took a big solo win in the Vuelta a Murcia, his first race as an Astana rider.

“At 2k to go I almost started to cry – the group was getting closer and my legs were getting heavier," he said at the finish. Taaramäe attacked and rode solo for the last 40km after teammate Luis Leon Sanchez told him he had nothing to lose.

The Estonian rider managed a maximum two-minute advantage despite a final hill and constant headwind. Taaramäe won by 10 seconds ahead of Dutch rider Bauke Mollema and Czech rider Ždenek Stybar.