The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

2014 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 5 live commentary, blog

27th August, 2014
Results: 2014 Vuelta a Espana, stage 4

1. John DEGENKOLB, Giant-Shimano
2. Vicente REYNES MIMO, IAM Cycling
3. Michael MATTHEWS, Orica-GreenEdge
4. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale
5. Daniel MARTIN, Garmin-Sharp
6. Alexandr KOLOBNEV, Katusha
7. Lloyd MONDORY, Ag2r La Mondiale
8. Valerio CONTI, Lampre-Merida
9. Bob JUNGELS, Trek Factory Racing
10. Fabio ARU, Astana
Michael Matthews is one of the favourites for Stage 10 of the 2016 Tour de France. (Image: Team Sky).
Roar Guru
27th August, 2014
37

The Vuelta a Espana continues toward the south of Spain tonight as the third Grand Tour of the year heads towards the end of the first week of action. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 5 from 12:00am (AEST).

Tonight’s stage see’s the peloton head from Priego de Cordoba to Ronda – at 180 kilometres in length with little vertical rise it is the second flat stage of the tour.

The climb through the Puerto El Saltillo (which is a category 3 hill) has a peak of 885 metres but the cyclists will only experience a 100 metre rise for the day.

The peloton will reach the top of the climb with 16kms remaining but it should not affect the sprinters who will be looking to make up any lost ground on the flat stage.

As such, today is the day where it will all be about the breakaway against the peloton, and one that is notably favourable to the sprinters with two recognised sprint sections at the beginning and end of the stage.

The first is at 55kms in the town of Encinas Reales. The second, which is 121.5kms into the stage, is in the town of Campillos.

Sprinters Nacer Bouhanni and John Degenkolb will go into Stage 5 as favourites following dominant performances in Stage 2.

Degenkolb – who won 5 stages in the Vuelta in 2012 – will be looking for back to back stage wins, and more revenge, after winning Stage 4 last night.

Advertisement

Peter Sagan will also favour his chances and is another one to look out for on the flat – the Tour De France green jersey winner is still looking for his first stage win in a Grand Tour this year.

Will his drought end tonight? I guess time will tell on that one.

Others to look out for include Tom Boonen, Andrea Guardini, Moreno Hofland, Matteo Pelucchi and Jens Debusschere.

Australia has a chance as well with Michael Matthews a good chance to take out the stage.

After his win in Stage 3, Matthews seemingly knows how to win in 2014 and will look to continue his good form tonight.

However, as a natural climber, he will be at a disadvantage as typically the mountains dispatch of his sprint rivals.

If things go right for the Australian then he can certainly add another stage win tonight to his tally in this year’s Tour of Spain.

Advertisement

Stage 5 will be all about the sprinters as they are given another chance to win with a flat stage. It promises to be a frantic finish to the line in Ronda.

Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 5 from 12:00am (AEST).

close