The Spaniard, who has bounced-back since testing positive for COVID-19, bided her time during the race until the last 15 kilometres.

She launched an attack and she drove in front to leave the likes of Liane Lippert and Lotte Kopecky in their wake.

Évita Muzic tried to keep pace with García but it proved futile as the race trickled into the final hundred metres.

García crossed the finish line in Ojo Guareña in 2 hours 46 mins 23 secs, which was 12 secs quicker than the French cyclist and 15 secs better than Lippert of Germany in third, Kopecky of Belgium in fourth and others.

García’s triumph has given her a handsome lead of 12 secs over Muzic and 15 secs lead on multiple of other riders.

She is now set to wear the purple jersey moving into stage four, the final part of the race.

"I had to race on instinct today because I didn’t have any teammates left at the front," García said, as reported by Cycling News.

"I was alone and had to cover so many attacks.

"I went on instinct and Évita came with me.

"I wasn’t thinking about winning the stage, only about gaining some time for the GC.

"But eventually I got the stage win, finally.

"I had been fighting for something like this for a long time."

Cyclists are expected to travel from Covarrubias to Lagunas de Neila in the closing stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas.