The fifth stage of the Volta a Catalunya had, with 206 kilometres, its longest day of this edition. Starting in La Pobla de Segur and finishing in Vilanova i la Geltrú, the day, which was completely flat and which passed along the seashore four days later, had two points marked in red: the two intermediate sprints. With Nairo dressed as a leader by the position meter being equal in time with Almeida, these two steps could cause changes. And there were. The first three bonuses three, two and one second respectively. The fight and the tension was breathed from the start, with a Quintana who already warned that “these two sprints would be key”. “I’ll have to be quick,” he said. And it was, but not enough, since he was right behind Almeida.
In the first of the passes, 30 km from the finish line, the three breakaways of the day (Berrade, Bou and Nicolau), passed in the lead. For the second, 16 km from Vilanova, the peloton, after the interest of the UAE, played those seconds, and Almeida passed in third position, adding a single second, enough to overtake Nairo. The stage was for the British Ethan Vernon, of the Quick Step, who opens his record at 21 years old and in a World Tour event. Almost nothing for the corpulent sprinter (1.88 meters). His partner Van Wilder fell to the ground a few meters before. The Briton prevailed in a disputed sprint against the German Bahaus who, as in Perpignan, after a great comeback, once again had honey on his lips by finishing in second position.
Shortly after the start of the day, attacks followed one another to form the breakaway. Three were the Spanish teams represented with Berrade (Kern Pharma), Nicolau (Caja Rural) and Martín (Euskatel). The peloton had them under control at all times, reaching a maximum advantage of five minutes. With 90 km to go, the UAE changed the pace, but it was a threat. They stretched and reduced the advantage, until finally they gave up the first intermediate sprint. They bet everything on the second in a day that was not fast due to the headwind (40 minutes late at the finish line). And in said sprint, in Panta de Foix, chaos reigned.
The brave One-X drove for Johannessen to pass first. Rui Costa, Almeida’s teammate, was second, and the Portuguese third. He ‘took’ a second from his compatriot, but even so it served him to become a leader. Nairo defended himself, but loses the “nice garment”. However, everything is still in a handkerchief. This Saturday, the sixth and penultimate day on the Costa Dourada with the end in Cambrils. For the stage, and this time it seems that the forecasts will not fail, rain is expected. Higuita is third, while Ayuso is still fourth. Everything is open and every second counts. Literally.