Rodriguez takes second win for Katusha but Chavanel holds on

Vuelta a Espana 2011 stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez took a characteristic win at the top of the short steep climb in Valdepeñas de Jaén. The Katusha rider sprinted clear in the last 500m after a perfect bit of team work from yesterday's winner Daniel Moreno.

When it comes to sprinting up such climbs Rodriguez is one of the few who can challenge either Philippe Gilbert or Cadel Evans. With neither of them present, the former world number one went unchallenged up the final stretch of road.

Behind him some gaps appeared between the favourites, although they were small enough not to merit any great panic. Euskaltel-Euskadi's leader Igor Anton was the first to go pop, no surprise after yesterday's dismal performance on teh road to Sierra nevada, and lost almost a minute.

The other GC riders lost just a few handfuls of seconds. Vincenzo Nibali was 11 seconds behind Rodriguez, Wiggins 20 and Dan Martin 39. Those gaps would have been as much about position than form as that final climb was also narrow.

The leaders almost rode in to the back of David Moncoutie when they caught him at the bottom of the climb, such was their difference in speed. And if anyone got caught behind slower moving riders at any other point, that loss of momentum would have cost them dear.

The win moved Rodriguez up to third overall, now just 23 seconds behind leader Sylvain Chavanel. Moreno held on to third place on the stage and stayed in second overall.

After just five stages the GC is already starting to take shape as two tough stages in the Sierra Nevada has filtered out many of the spontaneous riders who take their chances in the first week of Grand Tours.

Tomorrow's stage to Cordoba features a second category climb 20km from the line. The descent to the line may nullify any attacks, but it should at least set up another interesting finish.

Results

Vuelta A España 2011, stage five: Sierra Nevada - Valdepeñas de Jaén 187km

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha 4-42-54hrs

2. Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 4 secs

3. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Katusha at 5 secs

4. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 7 secs

5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD

6. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack

7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard-Trek

8. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r La Mondiale

9. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto

10. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana at same time

Other

20. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky at 20 secs

22. Christopher Froome (GB) Sky at 20 secs

30. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Cervelo at 29 secs

138. Ian Stannard (GB) Sky at 12-10

General classification after stage five

1. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick step 18-02-34 hr

2. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Katusha at 9 secs

3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha at 23 secs

4. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard-Trek at 25 secs

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 33 secs

6. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana at 35 secs

7. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard-Trek at 38 secs

8. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 43 secs

9. Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Movistar

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar at 52 secs

Other

19. Christopher Froome (GB) Sky at 1-20

20. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky at 1-20

24. Dan Martin (Irl) Garmin-Cervelo at 1-44

25. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r La Mondiale at 1-47

Liquigas ride for defending champ Vincenzo Nibali

Chris Froome

Daniel Martin

Sylvain Chavanel

Joaquin Rodriguez wins the stage

Sylvain Chavanel keeps the race lead

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Vuelta a Espana 2011

: Stage reports

Stage four: Moreno wins first mountain skirmish at Sierra Nevada

Stage three: Lastras solos to stage and takes red jersey

Stage two: Sutton grabs stage win to set things right for Sky

Stage one: Leopard-Trek win opening TTT to put Fuglsang in front

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Photo galleries

By Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Vuelta a Espana 2011: TV guide

Vuelta a Espana 2011: ITV4 TV schedule

Vuelta a Espana 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

ITV to show 2011 Vuelta