The Spanish cyclist emerged the day's winner during the 159.5 kilometer stage (about 100 miles) that stretches between the Belgian cities of Anvers and Huy.

But earlier in the day, a massive crash brought down 20 riders, including race leader Fabian Cancellara. Cancellara leapt into the air with his bike still attached to him before hitting the grass and somersaulting.

In addition to the heartbreak of ceding the yellow jersey after the hard fall, tests revealed Cancellara had fractured his spine, forcing him to withdraw from the race entirely.

Frenchman William Bonnet crashed with less than 37 miles left in the stage, and other riders around him soon tumbled. Bonnet was carried away on a stretcher and wearing a cervical neck brace. Three other racers in addition to Cancellara and Bonnet withdrew from the race following the crash.

The crash first prompted officials to neutralize the peloton -- effectively have racers slow and hold their relative positions -- before they stopped it altogether for about 20 minutes, according to ESPN.

England's Chris Froome, now the overall race leader, will don the yellow jersey for Stage Four on Tuesday.

"It's an amazing feeling to be in the yellow jersey," Froome told the BBC. "I wouldn't say its too early to take the yellow jersey. I'd definitely rather be in this position than having to make time up on my rivals."

-The Huffington Post