A group of 23 riders set off immediately after the start. Among them was Tosh Van der Sande. The Belgian rider from Team Jumbo-Visma joined the breakaway, which was kept within three minutes by the peloton.

Van der Sande was one of the last riders to be caught by the peloton. The favourites kept each other in check for a long time as the high tempo meant there were few pinpricks on the final climb. Gloag was kept at the front by teammates Koen Bouwman and Sam Oomen in the closing stages before the Briton sprinted for his chance in the final kilometre.

Tao Geoghegan Hart sprinted to victory with Gloag in his wake. Gloag's six bonification seconds moved him up one place in the general classification. With one stage to go, the Brit is fifth in the overall standings, in the same time as the fourth-placed rider.

"It went well”, Gloag said. "The whole team kept me out of the wind, so I didn't have to waste too much energy until the final. Thanks to Koen and Sam's excellent work, I was in a good position in the last few hundred metres. In retrospect, I probably should have started my sprint a little earlier, but I am happy with second place”, Gloag said.

The youngster is aware that success does not happen overnight. “I have to take advantage of things going well now while working hard to experience it more frequently in the future. It is special to have such great results at this level. My current position at the top of the youth classification is a welcome affirmation of my strong form. I hope we can finish the Tour of Valencia tomorrow well”, he concluded.