Evenepoel retains lead as Florez claims Queen stage at the Vuelta San Juan
Miguel Florez (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) took the victory on the Queen stage of the Vuelta a San Juan while Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) kept the overall race lead
On the summit finish Alto Colorado, Florez beat Team Medellin’s Oscar Sevilla and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) in a small bunch sprint.
The Queen stage was 169.5 kilometres long over an uphill route that included one third category, two of the second category and a mountain finish on the first category ascent of the Alto Colorado.
A group of eight riders form the breakaway early on in the stage and managed to create a gap of over four minutes.. At the start of the last ascent of the day, Bora-hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates set a high pace in front which, with the help of crosswinds, caused a major split which left GC leader Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step), panicking and struggling behind.
Riders like Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) and Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) set a high pace in the front group. Behind Evenepoel tried to control the pace of the third group to minimize loses.
With 12 kilometres to go, McNulty attacked from the second group and caught the remaining escapees and set a pace that only Juan Javier Melivilo (Municipalidad de Pocito), could stand.Moments later, the Argentinean was dropped and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) joined McNulty in front.
Evenepoel's group whiched included Óscar Sevilla, clawed their way back into contention and the small bunch battled in the final kilometers with attacks and counter attacks.
Florez beat Team Medellin’s Oscar Sevilla and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) in the small bunch sprint.
VIDEO: 2020 Vuelta a San Juan Stage 5
2020 Vuelta a San Juan Stage 5 top 10
1 Miguel Florez (Col) Androni Giaccattoli-Sidermec 4:36:23
2 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Team Medellin 0:00:02
3 Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:02
4 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 0:00:04
5 Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:04
6 Filippo Ganna (Ita) Italy 0:00:04
7 Cesar Paredes (Col) Team Medellin 0:00:18
8 Juan Javier Melivilo (Arg) Municipla de Pocito 0:00:36
9 Nicolas Tivani (Arg) Virgen de Fatima-Saddledrunk 0:00:36
10 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar 0:01:05
2020 Vuelta a San Juan GC after Stage 5
1 Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 16:19:05
2 Filippo Ganna (Ita) Italy 0:00:33
3 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Team Medellin 0:01:01
4 Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:21
5 Miguel Florez (Col) Androni Giaccattoli-Sidermec 0:02:11
6 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar 0:02:27
7 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 0:02:28
8 Cesar Paredes (Col) Team Medellin 0:02:36
9 Gavin Mannion )USA) Rally Cycling 0:02:53
10 Joan Pablo Dotti (SEP de San Juan) 0:03:05