Vuelta Stage 2: Orica-GreenEdge's Esteban Chaves wins and takes race lead

Esteban Chaves of Orica-GreenEdge has won Stage 2 of the Vuelta to take the race leader's red jersey, beating Giant-Alpecin's Tom Dumoulin to the line at the summit finish at Caminito del Rey. Nicolas Roche of Team Sky was third. Meanwhile Astana's Vincenzo Nibali has been expelled from the race after accepting a tow from a team car.

Nairo Quintana of Movistar, second to Sky's Chris Froome in the Tour de France last month, was first to attack on that final 4.5km climb to the finish, never before used in the Vuelta.

He was dropped on the latter part of the ascent as the road narrowed - though nowhere near as much as the now refurbished footpath along a rock face from which today's finish takes its name - and came home sixth.

Dan Martin of Cannondale-Garmin was fourth, with Katusha's Jouaquim Rodriguez fifth.

Earlier, a big crash had caused many members of the peloton to be held up with around 30km to go of the 158.7km stage from Alhaurín de la Torre.

Those delayed including fomer Vuelta champion Vincenzo Nibali of Astana, who crossed the line 1 minute 28 seconds behind the winner - and around a minute down on his own team mate Fabio Aru, as well as Team Sky's Chris Froome.

Nibali was subseqently thrown off the race as TV footage showed him accepting a tow from a team car as he sought to rejoin the peloton.