Schumacher sprints to victory in opening stage

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Stefan Schumacher (Miche-Guerciotti) earned his first victory since returning to competition in late 2010 from a drug suspension with his win in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Asturias. The 29-year-old German's teammate and 2010 Vuelta a Asturias champion Constantino Zaballa finished second while David Gutierrez (Geox-TMC) claimed third at the finish in Gijón.

Schumacher's victory also put him in the general classification lead. With time bonuses factored in, the German leads Zaballa by three seconds and Gutierrez by six seconds.

The 162.6km stage from Oviedo to Gijón started quickly, but no attacks stuck until Iñigo Cuesta (Caja Rural) made a solo move after the ascent of the day's first categorised climb, the El Fito at 73km.

The Spaniard remained off the front through the day's second intermediate sprint in Villaviciosa 34km later, but was soon swept up by the pursuing peloton.

The day's second and final categorised climb, the second category San Martin de Huerce located 14.2km from the finish line, proved instrumental in breaking up the peloton in the stage finale. Colombia's Rafael Infantino (EPM-UNE) crested the summit alone and remained off the front until 4km to go when he was swept up by a 25-rider chase group.

The lead group stayed together through to the line where Schumacher proved the quickest in the sprint finish.

The peloton faces two stages on Friday: an 82.9km road stage from Gijón to Avilés in the morning followed in the afternoon by a 14km individual time trial.