Joaquin Rodriguez wins fifth stage as Chavanel retains overall lead in Vuelta A Espana 2011
Katusha team’s Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver showed his pure climbing power in the fifth stage of Vuelta a Espana on August 24. Sylvain Chavanel retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Sierra Nevada and ended in Valdepenas de Jaen. The 32-year-old Spanish cyclists took the total of 4 hours, 42 minutes and 54 seconds to cover the distance of 187 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Oliver told the media, "I don't think I have spent more energy than the others though. Everyone will be tired after such a stage. It's often said in cycling that the winners are less tired than the others because of their high morale.”
Wout Poels of Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling close the gap with brave attempt but was in runner-up spot with four seconds down to Spanish.
In the beginning of the stage, the attacks came thick and fast but the break stuck after 60 kilometres to go, the group of eight cyclists got away in the first of two climbs in the second category of Alto de Valdepenas.
After the mid-section of the stage, the HTC-Highroad rider Michael Albasini got clear and was quickly joined by the two cyclists including, Johannes Frohlinger (Skil Shimano) and Angel Madrazo (Movistar) while the remaining leaders were away by the Katusha-led
peloton.
The trio increased their pace and managed to gain a lead of two minutes while after few kilometres to go, the three time Vuelta champion David Moncoutie launched an attack. Although the pace was being set by both the two time Katusha and Liquigas. Cofidis
veteran gained a lead of 34 seconds but his lead was down to just 15 seconds. Katusha increased his pace and managed to cross the finish line ahead of the other cyclists.
His team-mate Daniel Moreno Fernandez was in third place with the difference of 5 seconds ahead of Bauke Mollema and Bauke Scarponi.
He further added, "It's not a surprise for me to do this because I've said since the beginning of the Vuelta that I was here for the win. I'm satisfied with where I'm standing on GC. Most of the favourites are still in contention with no big time differences."
Recently, Oliver took the first stage of Tour of the Basque Country and won the second stage and took overall lead in Vuelta a Burgos. He grabbed the runner-up spot in Amstel gold race and La Fleche Wallonne.
Chavanel of Quickstep took overall lead with the timing of 18 hours, 2 minutes and 34 seconds while Fernandez was runner-up with 9 seconds behind Sylvain. The stage winner Oliver was in third place with the difference of 23 seconds ahead of Jakob Fuglsang
and Nibali.
The next stage will run in Úbeda and finished in Córdoba and all the cyclists will cover the distance of 185.7 kilometres to take victory.
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