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
Related links
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Latest news
Wiggins pleased with strong ride in Spanish sierras
Cavendish abandons Vuelta a Espana
Cavendish battles on in summer scorcher in Vuelta
Vuelta heads for first major showdown on Tuesday
Matt Goss first rider to abandon Vuelta
Team Sky's TTT horror on troublesome course
Dan Martin confident and collected as Vuelta team leader
Pro predictions: Who will win the Vuelta?
HTC-Highroad's reservations about TTT course
Vuelta team time trial start order
Sky plans early start for Vuelta team time trial recon
Wiggins looking to minimise losses in testing Vuelta TTT
Riders voice support for Hushovd over Vuelta exclusion
Cancellara late to Vuelta after being hospitalised by bee sting
Nibali back for victory again in 2011 Vuelta
Wiggins: "I'm in a great position going into the Vuelta"
Wiggins confirmed as Sky leader for the Vuelta
Freire: It'll be tough in the Vuelta with Cavendish
Hushovd left out of Vuelta; Dan Martin to lead Garmin-Cervelo
Cavendish and Wiggins on provisional Vuelta start list
Climbers set to dominate in 2011 Vuelta
Millar on 2011 Vuelta: 'Modern-looking and very challenging"
2011 Vuelta set to return to Angliru and Basque country
Angliru back in 2011 Tour of Spain
Hushovd left out of Vuelta; Martin to lead Garmin-Cervélo
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Teams, riders, start list
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Who's riding?
Vuelta a Espana 2011 team list
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
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