Maximilian Schachmann of Germany won a first UCI World Tour stage in the Volta a Catalunya ©Getty Images

Germany’s Maximilian Schachmann, riding for Quick-Step Floors, came through freezing wind, rain and sleet to win the penultimate stage of the Volta a Catalunya and earn his first International Cycling Union World Tour victory.

The scheduled 194 kilometre stage was drastically shortened to 117km because of the snowy conditions in the Pyrenees.

Schachmann and Diego Rubio of Burgos-BH were off the front for nearly 100km with a margin that never rose above three-and-a-half minutes, and was only 18 seconds by the finish at Torrefarrera.

The 24-year-old German moved clear of his companion in the final kilometre.

The German was timed at 2 hours 34min 25sec, with Spain's Rubio being given the same time on home soil.

Maximilian Schachmann heads for the line to win his first UCI World Tour stage at the Volta a Catalunya ©Twitter
Maximilian Schachmann heads for the line to win his first UCI World Tour stage at the Volta a Catalunya ©Twitter

Ireland's Sam Bennett, of Bora-Hansgrohe,  led home the peloton 18 seconds after Schachmann to complete the stage podium.

Italy’s Alejandro Valverde, riding for Movistar, finished safely in the bunch to retain his lead in the general classification.

Crosswinds in the final 30km threatened to create havoc among the overall contenders, but all of the favourites made the front split.

"I think there's maybe one per cent of the bunch that like this kind of weather, and I'm not one of them," the German said.

"I can't imagine how cold it was in the bunch because I was riding hard the whole day, just shaking on the bike, my neck was cramping up in the cold and the long descents in particular were really bad."