2021 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 5 Results

Jasper Philipsen of the Alpecin-Fenix Cycling Team took another stage win at the 2021 Vuelta a Espana in a sprint finish in Albacete. The Belgian beat Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) to the line, with Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) taking third.

A crash in the peloton 11km from the finish shook up the general classification, with race leader Rein Taaramäe losing the red jersey to Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) as a result.

“It makes it even more beautiful if you see the final five kilometres how we were there together all with the team. I cannot describe that,” said Philipsen, who now leads Jakobsen by a single point in the points classification.

“This team, we haven’t been riding so long together but it’s incredible what we all do for each other, and I think it’s so beautiful to finish it off together.

“After yesterday I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t do my sprint how I wanted but to win today is super nice to turn a page from yesterday and enjoy this moment together with the team.

“It’s not particularly that I’m already thinking about the end of the Vuelta and the green jersey but it’s nice to wear it day by day and then we’ll just see how far we can get.”

Elissonde Takes The Lead:

Elissonde, who began the day 25 seconds back, managed to stay clear of the fracas to finish 23rd on the day and to move into the leader’s jersey. He’ll be wearing a target on his back for Thursday’s hilltop finish at the Alto de la Montaña de Cullera, with Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) just five seconds back in the general classification.

“This is not the way I wanted to take the jersey but we know in cycling when there is wind, there is risk,” Elissonde said after descending from the podium. “25 seconds, you can lose it with an echelon also, so you had to be vigilant. OK, I don’t like it, it was not a pleasure, but at the end of the day, I cannot do anything else. It’s how it is.”

“I’m a bit sorry for him, he’s a really nice guy, but that’s cycling,” said Elissonde, who had placed second to Taaramäe atop Picón Blanco on Monday.

“It was very nervous today with the possibility of echelons. You never want crashes, but we all knew there was a possibility of splits today, so we were all vigilant. I would have preferred to have taken the jersey à la pédale rather than because of someone else’s misfortune, but I just did my own race.”

Bad Day for Taaramae:

Taaramäe was caught in the mass pileup and appeared to need a bike change. The peloton eased momentarily in a sign of fair play but then accelerated again later on to fight for the sprint victory.

“Again, it was an unlucky crash, I’m almost OK, even my clothing was in one piece,” Taaramäe said after the stage. “Actually, it was a bad idea to be in a good position because the crash happened near the front and the guys at the back passed but I was up there and it took some minutes to go again.

“Two days in the red jersey, that was good for me. It was nice to experience that and I’m not so sad to lose it. I would have lost it tomorrow or the day after so it’s not a big deal. We’ll see day by day but I think I can defend the polka-dot jersey more than the leader’s jersey.”

2021 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 5 Brief Results

1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix at 4h24’41”
2. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck-QuickStep s.t.
3. Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM s.t.
4. Juan Sebastian Molano Benavides (Col) UAE Team Emirates s.t.
5. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis s.t.
6. Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA s.t.

General Classification After Stage 5

1. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Trek-Segafredo at 17h33’57”
2. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma at 5″
3. Lilian Calmejane (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team at 10″
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team at 20″
5. Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Col) Movistar Team at 26″