Stage Report: Stage 5 was one of many few day’s for the sprinters and it was that man once more: Kaden Groves. The Alpecin-Deceuninck Australian was the quickest within the bunch dash forward of Filippo Ganna who went for a protracted dash. Remco Evenepoel held the chief’s crimson jersey.

Stage 5 remaining kilometre

Kaden Groves gained the fifth stage of the 2023 Vuelta a España after a duel with Filippo Ganna. After 186 kilometres to Burriana, the Australian of Alpecin-Deceuninck was the quickest for the second day in a row. Dries Van Gestel took third place behind Ganna. The crimson jersey stays with Remco Evenepoel, who gained the one intermediate dash so as to add some seconds to his GC lead.

Second win for Kaden Groves in two days

Race director, Fernando Escartín: “A dash finale is anticipated on this stage. The day’s solely mountain problem will happen 50 kilometres from the finish-line. Though escapes are doable, they might not essentially happen inside the first week of racing. The riders will nonetheless have nearly all their power and sprinters will need to profit from this time earlier than the race turns into a lot more durable.”

Stage 5 profile

The massive crash within the finale of stage 4 precipitated quite a lot of harm: Bryan Coquard, Ruben Guerreiro and Kobe Goossens, all didn’t begin stage 5 in Morella. Then within the neutralised part earlier than the beginning, Eddie Dunbar crashed and couldn’t proceed.

One other day in crimson for Remco Evenepoel

Earlier than the beginning there was discuss of cross-winds splitting the race. There have been a number of makes an attempt by EF Schooling-EasyPost and dsm-firmenich, however nothing got here of them. Eric Fagundez managed to go solo. No different riders joined the Uruguayan of Burgos-BH, so he confronted a protracted, lonely day of 186 kilometres.

The beginning from Morella fort

The peloton leaving Morella

Fagundez quickly had a 2 minute lead and because of the disinterest of the peloton he made it 5 minutes. Within the peloton, Alpecin-Deceuninck of inexperienced jersey Kaden Groves took management to drag Fagundez again a bit. With a few 2 minute lead, Fagundez began to climb the Collalbo de la Ibola (11.4km at 3.9%), the summit of which was greater than 50 kilometres from the end in Burriana.

Kilometre 0

Nothing occurred within the peloton on the climb. The one attacker was KOM, Eduardo Sepúlveda. Lotto Dstny’s Argentinian jumped throughout to the Uruguayan on his personal, Fagundez couldn’t comply with Sepúlveda and dropped again to the bunch after the highest. Sepúlveda took 5 KOM factors, Fagundez 3. Sepúlveda was alone within the lead for some time, however was quickly again within the peloton.

The followers have been out

Fagundez was caught 41 kilometres from the end and Sepúvleda not lengthy after. It was then as much as Alpecin-Deceuninck to maintain the tempo excessive, however the GC groups have been additionally coming ahead to maintain their leaders on the entrance. There have been 20 roundabouts within the final 20 kilometres, which was making the massive peloton nervous.

Possibly not the day for a lone assault (186km) – Eric Fagundez (Burgos-BH)

The intermediate dash of the day in Nules was nonetheless to return, just below 11 kilometres from the end. It was the crimson jersey of Remco Evenepoel who surprisingly took 6 bonus seconds, forward of the inexperienced jersey Kaden Groves, who was completely satisfied so as to add to his factors rating.

One other ‘simple’ stage on paper

Within the final 5 kilometres it was chaos resulting from all these roundabouts. There have been a number of factors the place the highway narrowed and simply earlier than the three kilometre level there was a crash on one of many roundabouts. Milan Menten got here down with three or 4 different riders. Alpecin-Deceuninck and EF Schooling-EasyPost stored out of bother on the entrance of peloton.

Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal Fast-Step have been in management

The final nook was 700 metres from the road. Groves was led-out completely and dropped on the entrance, however Filippo Ganna and Alberto Dainese have been developing quick from behind. The Australian held off Ganna by half a wheel with a remaining lunge to the road. Behind the Italian, Dries Van Gestel was in third place, Dainese was fourth, fifth place went to Lewis Askey and Edward Theuns was sixth.

Ganna was developing quick

Within the basic classification, Remco Evenepoel gained 6 seconds on all the opposite GC males. He now has a lead of 11 seconds on Enric Mas, 17 seconds on Lenny Martinez, 37 seconds on Jonas Vingegaard and 43 seconds on Primož Roglič.

Groves held off the quick ending Italian

Stage winner and factors chief,Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “It’s a unbelievable feeling, the second win of this Vuelta, and two in a row, it’s an awesome feeling particularly doing it with the inexperienced jersey. On the finish, it was a reasonably hectic remaining right this moment, much like yesterday however with out climbing. The wind made it fairly nervous however my workforce was unbelievable once more. We misplaced three guys in a crash with 2.5km to go however fortunately my lead out was nonetheless there and we might organise for the ultimate. [Remco Evenepoel] needed the time bonus within the intermediate dash and I agreed with the workforce to not go for it, however in the long run I believed I might get factors with out spending an excessive amount of power, so I took 2nd which can also be good for the classification.”

Two wins in two days for Kaden Groves

Total chief, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step): “I do know that these seconds gained’t most likely make any distinction on the finish of the race, however because the pace went up, I stated to myself I ought to simply go for the bonifications, particularly because it didn’t price me any power. To date, the race was excellent for us and we hope it should proceed like this.”

Robust remaining climb on stage 6 for Remco Evenepoel to defend his lead

# Meet up with all of the Vuelta a España information in EUROTRASH Thursday. #

Vuelta a España Stage 5 End result:
1. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 4:23:43
2. Filippo Ganna (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers
3. Dries Van Gestel (Bel) TotalEnergies
4. Alberto Dainese (Ita) dsm-firmenich
5. Lewis Askey (GB) Groupama-FDJ
6. Edward Theuns (Bel) Lidl-Trek
7. David González (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
8. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) TotalEnergies
9. Jesús Ezquerra (Spa) Burgos-BH
10. Jarrad Drizners (Aus) Lotto Dstny.

Vuelta a España Total After Stage 5:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step in 17:12:29
2. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar at 0:11
3. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:17
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma at 0:37
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:39
6. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe
7. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma at 0:43
8. Juan Ayuso (Spa) UAE Staff Emirates at 0:44
9. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Staff Emirates at 0:48
10. João Almeida (Por) UAE Staff Emirates.

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