Paolini takes Vuelta stage

The 29-year-old Italian, whose only previous professional victories came in last year's Tour of Britain, was the strongest man on the uphill finish in Castile La Mancha.

He took advantage of some hesitation behind to open a gap and held on, even having time to sit up, kiss his wedding ring and milk the acclaim of the crowd.

He finished four seconds ahead of Davitamon-Lotto youngster Bart Dockx as Olympic champion Paolo Bettini did not even contest second place after fading over the final kilometre.

The group formed just before the feed zone of the 169km stage from Aranda de Duero which was flat apart from an early third category climb.

The leading dozen of Bettini, Paolini, Dockx, Vladimir Gusev, Ruben Perez, Kevin Hulsmans, Bernhard Eisel, Bjorn Leukemans, Heinrich Haussler, Ian McLeod, Jean-Patrick Nazon and David Arroyo built up a lead approaching 11 minutes ensuring they would contest the finish.

Ruggero Marzoli led the peloton over the line, 8:54 behind, after Astana-Wurth did some work on the front of the peloton to ensure that Caisse d'Epargne's Arroyo, the highest placed of the escapees on GC, would not break into the top ten.