France's Clement Champoussin claimed a surprise victory in a frantic finale at the last road stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
Defending champion Primoz Roglic leads overall by two minutes and 38 seconds from Enric Mas.
Champoussin had been part of a large breakaway that led by 12 minutes midway through the 202km stage from Sanxenxo to Mos, only to let that slip away as the Grenadiers put the power down in the second half.
As the peloton splintered, Lopez and Bernal - third and fifth overall at the start of the day - were in a group that fell behind, with an emotional Lopez abandoning the race before the stage finish as his ambitions crumbled around him.
After the final escapee, Ryan Gibbons was caught on the last climb, Yates, Roglic, and Mas all tried attacks in search of the stage win but it was the late dart of Champoussin, 1500 metres from the line, which proved decisive.
Gaining two places overall was some consolation for Yates, though the 29-year-old admitted it was not his goal.
"I'm quite far down on the GC so it was that stage I really wanted to try and win," he said. "I tried my best but it wasn't enough.
"You need to drop everyone, especially when there are fast guys in the group. I tried a few times and that's all you can do. It wasn't good enough and we'll try again next time."
Clement Champoussin takes final road stage in Vuelta
