Molano 4th in hectic Vuelta finale

Sebastian Molano put in a valiant effort to finish 4th in the sprint finish on stage 5 of the Vuelta España from Tarancón to Albacete (184 km).

The Emirati team managed to avoid injury in the crashes which plagued the final 15km, taking charge of the peloton with 2km to go with Ryan Gibbons and Rui Oliveira putting in big turns before the final gallop.

Molano: “Things started off relaxed but the final part of the stage was really hectic. Thankfully none of our guys came down in the crash but unfortunately Trentin was held up so we lost a guy from our lead-out train.

I nearly crashed a few times in the final, it was a really nervous sprint and in the end I did the best I could. I’ll have more opportunities in the next days and I’m confident we can take a big result.”

 
Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) becomes the new wearer of the leaders jersey while Jan Polanc is the best placed of the Emirati squad in 15th place at 1’14’’.

 
The 6th stage tomorrow will start from Requena and head to Alto de la Montaña de Cullera (158.3km) where Tadej Pogačar seized the leaders jersey at the Vuelta Valenciana in 2020.

 
Stage 5 results

1.Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) 4:24:41
2.Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) s.t
3.Alberto Dainese (DSM) s.t
4.Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

 
General classification after the 5th stage

1. Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) 17:33:57
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +5“
3.Lilian Calmejane (Ag2r-Citroen) +10’’
15. Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) + 1’14 “