Miguel Angel Lopez finished 4th in Stage 5 of the 2019 Vuelta a Espana to take back the red leader’s jersey.
After a few hilly stages, the Vuelta a España reached the mountains with the 5th stage of 170.7 km to the top of the first category climb Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre. Miguel Angel Lopez attacked from GC favorites group inside the last 3 km of climbing, shortly taking a good gap. The Astana rider finished 4th, 47 seconds behind three riders from the daily break. In the same time, he took some important seconds over his main rivals in the fight for the general classification of the race, in the end of the day coming back into the red jersey of the overall leader.
“The last climb was super tough, but my teammates once again did a fantastic job for me, working hard during the day and almost the whole last climb, placing me really well, when a few teams started to increase the pace,” said Lopez at the finish. “In a moment I just decided to try and to see if I can do something on this climb. I had good legs today and when I saw nobody really follows me, I continued pushing hard until the finish. The last part before the finish was hard, but I managed to get some seconds on my rivals. It was just the first mountain stage and more climbing stages are still to come, but at the moment I am happy with my performance and with the red jersey that I’ve got back. Also, I am happy to bring this jersey back for my team, which was really perfect today.”
Stage 5 has started in L’Eliana and shortly after the start three riders went away, creating the daily breakaway. These group got a big advantage over 11 minutes and, despite a lot of action behind them in the bunch, they were able to survive and to play the stage, finally, won by Angel Madrazo.
The Astana leader Miguel Angel Lopez was placed good in front of the main group surrounded by his teammates. In a moment, with more or less 2.6 km to the top, Lopez launched a powerful attack and nobody of rivals could follow him. At the finish line Miguel Angel won 12 seconds on the first chasing group with Alejandro Valverde and Primoz Roglic. This result allowed the Astana rider to move back in the lead in the overall standings of the Vuelta a España. After stage 5 Lopez wins 14 seconds on Roglic and 23 seconds on Nairo Quintana.
Lopez also leads in the best young rider classification.
Another day in the mountains is coming tomorrow with stage 6 from Mora de Rubielos to Ares del Maestrat of 198.9 km.
Stage 5 Brief Results:
- Ángel Madrazo (ESP) Burgos – BH at 4h58’31”
- Jetse Bol (NED) Burgos – BH at 10”
- José Herrada (ESP) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits at 22”
- Miguel Ángel López (COL) Astana Pro Team at 47”
- Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team at 59”
General Classification After Stage 5:
- Miguel Ángel López (COL) Astana Pro Team at 18h55’21”
- Primož Roglic (SLO) Team Jumbo – Visma at 14”
- Nairo Quintana (COL) Movistar Team at 23”
- Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team at 28”
- Nicolas Roche (IRL) Team Sunweb at 57”
- Rigoberto Urán (COL) EF Education First at 59”
- Esteban Chaves (COL) Mitchelton – Scott at 1’17”
- Rafal Majka (POL) BORA – hansgrohe at 1’18”
- Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates at 1’49”
- Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb at 1’50”
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