Four days ago Warren Barguil nearly abandoned the Vuelta a Espana when a crash in the neutral zone had left him with a wounded knee. Today his fortunes changed when he kept his calm in a hectic race finale to beat his more experienced breakaway companions in the 14th stage of the race.

Warren Barguil had given a very strong impression in the first part of the Vuelta a Espana and people were starting wondering whether he could finish high on GC when his race unravelled in the neutral zone of stage 10. A crash left him with pain in his knee on one of the hardest stages of the entire race and he fought through the stage with support from teammates Johannes Fröhlinger and Thierry Hupond, losing more than 20 minutes.

With the GC no longer a target, he changed his focus and started to go for stage wins. His first opportunity came in today's stage which was a good one for a breakaway and Barguil grabbed it with both hands, taking his first professional win on the biggest scene.

The win makes up for Monday's disappointment.

"I am so proud of my victory today in my first year as professional and for it to come in a Grand Tour," he said. "I crashed really hard last Monday and I was really disappointed after that, as I was 19th in the GC and had several top 10 finishes in the mountain stages. Even if that not was my biggest goal this Vuelta it was a pity to lose this overall position. But the rest day came at the right moment and since that I have felt better and better."

"The crash happened in the neutral zone," he added. "It wasn’t like if I had done a mistake. I was pretty disappointed but I didn’t give up. My directeur sportif Marc Reef reminded me that our initial plan was to live it day by day. I’m really happy that I insisted because now, it’s only joy."

Barguil made it into the decisive breakaway and survived when the group was whittled down on the Alto del Rat Penat. Despite his fast finish, he decided to make an attack with 1km to go and while his companions looked at each other, he soloed away to the win.

"We knew that today was a good opportunity for a break away, so I saved my energy and I still felt really good in the finale," he said. "I knew it suited me very well and I waited for the right moment to attack and I did it. Unbelievable."

" In the finale, as we were ten at the front, I’ve told myself: I can’t finish tenth! In the team, we have someone who analyses the last 5km with a video, so I knew exactly what to expect. The uphill sprint could have suited me as well but I’ve felt the right moment to go when everyone else looked like resting a bit."

Barguil won the Tour de l'Avenir last season and has been regarded as a big talent for the future. However, he had a difficult first time as a professional as the early part of the season were hampered by back problems.

"I am happy that I can confirm my talent with this victory, given I had some problems with my back in the beginning of the season," he said. But the team gave me all their trust and guidance to work towards this race without any pressure or expectations. It is great how they support me and help me to develop as a rider."

Earlier today, Barguil was included in the pre-selection for the French team for the world championships. Asked about his chances on the hilly course in Florence, he refused to look too far ahead.

"Firstly, I want to finish the Vuelta," he said. "The final selection will be decided after the stage to the Anglirù [on September 14]. If I’m not too tired by then and still in good shape, it’ll go well for the French team at the World’s. Bernard [Bourreay, French national coach] knows the riders from the previous years he coached us in the young categories. He’s going to create a real team, not an addition of individuals."

Barguil will face another daunting task in tomorrow's first Pyrenean stage. Starting at 14.45 CEST you can follow the stage on CyclingQuotes.com/live.