Sergio Higuita took the lead in the Volta a Catalunya on Saturday despite finishing second to Richard Carapaz after a long two-man breakaway.

The two South Americans broke away from the peloton 50 kilometres into the hilly 168km stage.

With the other teams unwilling to mount an organised pursuit on a cold and rainy day, Higuita, a Colombian who rides for Bohra, and Carapaz, an Ecuadorian with Ineos, built a lead of three-and-a-half minutes.

After they had worked together for most of the day, Carapaz won a furious final sprint for the line in Cambrils.

Australian Kaden Groves of Bike Exchange won the dash for third as the peloton rolled in 48 seconds later.

Higuita, who started the day in third, took the overall lead while Carapaz leapt to second, 16 seconds behind.

Portuguese rider João Almeida of Team UAE, who started the day in the lead, slid to third at 52 seconds ahead of a testing final day in Barcelona which includes six climbs of Montjuic.