Tim Wellens wins stage five of La Vuelta from the Breakaway
Belgian rider Tim Wellens outsprinted Frenchman Guillaume Martin to take the fifth stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, as defending champion Primoz Roglic finished fourth to retain the overall lead
Wellens of Lotto-Soudal and Martin of Cofidis were part of a long breakaway on the 184.4km ride from Huesca to Sabinanigo. Jumbo-Visma's Roglic outkicked the rest of the chasing pack on the short climb to the finish.
Lotto Soudal’s Tim Wellens claimed the stage win in Sabiñanigo after beating Guillaume Martin and Thymen Arensman in a three-man sprint. Wellens becomes also leader in the mountains classification. The three sprinted for the stage having broken clear from a larger breakaway group that formed earlier in the stage. After the stage Wellens announced having extended his contract with the team until end of 2022.
Feels supergood," said Wellens, who was forced out of the Tour de France after a training crash in late August.
Martin and Wellens were part of a three man break with Dutchman Thymen Arensman of Sunweb.
"We went away with three we were all supergood together," said Wellens.
Wellens launched his sprint early on the short climb to the finish. Martin gave chase but, as he closed in, Wellens went again.
"That kick at the end brought me to victory," he said.
"The goal of the team was to have a minimum of one victory in the Vuelta and it's super nice that it comes so early. So now the next two weeks are a without stress."
Tim Wellens, multiple winner of some stage races, won already two stages in the Giro. This is his first one in the Vuelta. After a difficult classics campaign, Tim Wellens insisted on participating in La Vuelta to color his short and different 2020 season.
"I had a difficult period with a big crash in the run-up to Tour de France. I made a comeback in Tour de Luxembourg but I needed a long time to find back my good legs. So, I was a little bit scared to come into this Vuelta. But I am super happy with this stage victory”, explained Tim Wellens.
Roglic avoided a crash on a corner on the final climb in which points leader Irishman Dan Martin went down and then powered away fro m the pack.
VIDEO: 2020 La Vuelta Stage 5 Highlights
2020 La Vuelta Stage 5 Top 10
2 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 00:00:04
3 Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team Sunweb 00:00:12
4 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:02:13
5 Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:02:14
6 Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Astana Pro Team 00:02:17
7 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:02:17
8 Julien Simon (Fra) Total Direct Energie 00:02:17
9 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:02:17
10 Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R la Mondiale 00:02:17
2020 La Vuelta GC after Stage 5
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 20:52:31
2 Daniel Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation 00:00:05
3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:13
4 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 00:00:32
5 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Pro Cycling 00:00:38
6 Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:00:44
7 Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:01:17
8 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott 00:01:29
9 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team 00:01:55
10 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:01:57