A four-rider breakaway was caught inside the closing kilometre and Cort's EF Education Nippo team mates helped him to the front of the pack, from where he was able to secure a second stage win of this year's race.

It is also the Dane's fifth stage victory at La Vuelta, and lifts him to second in the points classification - still 66 behind Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen.

Cort's winning time was 3 hours 44min 21sec, with Jakobsen's Deceuninck-QuickStep team mate Andrea Bagioli of Italy second and the Australian Michael Matthews third.

The first 39 riders were all given the same time, with Eiking in the red jersey and defending champion Primož Roglič both among that group.

Roglič, the Slovenian in Jumbo-Visma colours who is seeking to win a third consecutive Vuelta a España title, was involved in a crash 53km from the end, as was Adam Yates of Ineos Grenadiers and Britain, but both recovered and finished in the leading group.

Norway's Eiking, riding for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, maintains a 58-second advantage over Cofidis Frenchman Guillaume Martin in the general classification.

Roglič looms large, 1min 56sec back in third.

A flat stage tomorrow means the sprinters will likely be front and centre again, with the peloton due to make a 203.7km ride from Belmez to Villanueva de la Serena.