Safe passage for Grenadiers on stage five

18 Aug 2021

Safe passage for Grenadiers on stage five

Vuelta a Espana stage 5: Tarancón › Albacete, 184.4km.

The INEOS Grenadiers combined well to ensure their leaders finished in the peloton following a difficult finale to stage five. 

A large crash in the bunch with 12 kilometres remaining on the run-in to Albacete affected a lot of riders, with Richard Carapaz caught up in the incident. 

Fortunately, the Olympic champion was not hurt and was brought back into the main peloton by Pavel Sivakov and Salvatore Puccio to finish the stage alongside his teammates as Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix) sprinted to the stage victory. 

On a day where crosswinds were a possibility, the Grenadiers worked well together to position the leaders well and were alert to any potential issues.  One possible place where crosswinds could have played a part was with 30 kilometres remaining as the race turned onto a long straight. 

However, despite Sivakov being attentive and ready to push the pace, the wind direction did not suit an attack and the peloton remained together until the crash punctuated a high-speed finish into Albacete. 
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Egan Bernal

“We knew there would be crosswinds at around 30km to go - that’s why we took the lead into the corner onto the long straight, but actually the wind was more like a head-cross wind, so even if you had the legs it would be very hard to do something. 

"I asked Pavel to go a bit easier and in the final kilometres it proved it was important to have numbers to bring me into position. I really like these stages - it’s really hard and you will be suffering, but I like it. One time you may be in the front, one time you may be in the back but that’s what makes it nice."
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Pavel Sivakov

"Flat stages are where something major can happen, there was a lot of tension in the bunch throughout the day. We managed to keep it safe for the boys, we did a great job so it’s one more day down. That’s the kind of day you want to get through as fast as possible.

:At 30km to go, I don’t think it was a great place and it was a bit windier clooser to the finish, but we just wanted to be safe, stay at the front and avoid any crashes. I accelerated as I thought they were telling me to go on the radio, but it was actually the opposite! The wind wasn’t strong but you still have to stay close to the front as we saw what can happen. 

“Richard was involved in the crash, he was behind and I had to close the gap to get back into the bunch with him. Today I had an early job to do for the team and I think I have good legs so I am looking forward to the weekend."
Overall standings:

1. Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) 17:33:57
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +5"
3. Lilian Calmejane (Ag2r Citroen) +10"
4. Enric Mas (Movistar) +20"
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar) +26"
8. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +32"
13. Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers) +56"
22. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:50"