Alexey Lutsenko (Team Astana) solo's to stage 5 win at the Vuelta a Espana

Alexey Lutsenko (Team Astana) won stage 5 of the Vuelta a Espana while our young Eritrean, Merhawi Kudus put in an incredible ride to place 2nd on the stage. Marc Soler (Movistar) rounded out the podium in 3rd while Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall lead

Stage 5 of the Vuelta a Espana was an incredibly difficult 175km from Benicassim to Alcossebre. The riders had to contend with 5 categorised climbs on another scorcher of day, where the temperature averaged in the mid to high 30's centigrade. From the start, there was a number of attacks and eventually a 15 man breakaway was established.

Team Sky kept close tabs on the breakaway initially, the gap was held between 2 and 3 minutes for most the day.

Thebreakaway  pushed on and eventually the gap grew. The decisive moment in the stage came just as the penultimate climb of the day was completed with 50km to go. Marco Haller (Katusha) attacked the break as a descent started and Lutesenko and Matej Mohric (UAE Emirates) bridged across on the downhill.

The remaidner of the breakway group was not working well together and the gap started to grow to the leaders. Eventually they began attacking one another, trying to get rid of the passengers. 4 riders went clear on the long valley road that led to the final climb of the day, Eritrean, Merhawi Kudus from Team Dimension Data included. Mohric dropped from the leading group and was soon caught by the chase group.

With 11km to go, Kudus and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale) rode away from their chasing counterparts, in hot pursuit of Haller and Lutsenko. At this stage the peloton was well out of contention at over 6 minutes back.

Eritrean Merhawi Kudus climber and Gougeard started the final 3km climb 40 seconds behind the leading duo and almost immediately, Lutesenko dropped Haller and Kudus dropped Gougeard as the road pointed upwards. Kudus flew into 2nd place on the road but Lutsenko was riding well to keep his advantage. In the end, the climb was not long enough for Kudus to claw back Lutsenko, but a courageous ride nonetheless from our 23-year-old Eritrean saw him finish 2nd on the stage.

Behind in the main peloton, Team Sky pushed up the pace and then Froome attacked, only Contador (Trek-Segafredo), Michael Woods (Cannondale-Drapac) and Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) could follow, with other GC contenders like Vincenzo Nibali losing more time.

Hence, Chris Froome remains in the Red Leader's jersey after a animated day's racing.

Merhawi Kudus who came second explained "It was quite hard to be in the breakaway today, spending over 4 hours in the wind and then having to finish on a very steep climb like that. There was a headwind most of the day but luckily, we were a lot of guys in the break so we could keep the gap over the peloton. On the 2nd last climb the attacking started, it wasn't very steep so it didn't suit me but I just followed as best I could. Having to chase those 2 guys on a flat road before the last steep climb was really difficult. I am very happy with 2nd position though, I am motivated to take another opportunity now."

2017 Vuelta a Espana Stage 5 Results Top Twenty

1 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 4:24:58 
2 Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin (Eri) Dimension Data 0:00:42 
3 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:56 
4 Matej Mohoric (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:11 
5 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:24 
6 Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-Alpecin 0:01:37 
7 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:40 
8 Jetse Bol (Ned) Manzana Postobon 0:02:04 
9 Matvey Mamykin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:02:18 
10 Jeremy Maison (Fra) FDJ 0:02:31 
11 Michel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport 0:03:20 
12 Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:04:00 
13 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:31 
14 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky   
15 Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale-Drapac   
16 Johan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica-Scott   
17 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:04:39 
18 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:04:42 
19 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team   
20 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team  

2017 Vuelta a Espana GC Stage 5 Results

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 18:07:10 
2 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:10 
3 Johan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica-Scott 0:00:11 
4 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team 0:00:13 
5 David de la Cruz (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:23 
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:36 
7 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:49 
8 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:00:50 
9 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:01:09 
10 Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale-Drapac

VIDEO: 2017 Vuelta a Espana Stage 5 Final Kilometre

VIDEO: 2017 Vuelta a Espana Stage 5 Favorites Finish