La Vuelta a Espana bids farewell to the autonomous region of Galicia, as the race crosses over in to the province of Zamora, part of the autonomous region of Castile and León.
While the stage profile may suggest a mountain stage, today may actually be the first opportunity for the sprinters to shine.
A rugged journey of 174.3km from Sober to Lago De Sanabria awaits the peloton on Stage 5.
Featuring false flats and two Category 3 climbs, today’s stage will certainly not be for the weary.
The slopes of the Alto do Covelo and Alto de Padornelo may tentatively be 11km and 10km in length respectively, however, both climbs have low average gradients.
With an average gradient of 4 percent for the Alto do Covelo and 2.6 percent for the Alto de Padornelo, the sprinters should on paper be able to remain in contact with the peloton.
With the Vuelta a Espana cycling away from the Galician coastline and in to the Spanish hinterlands the wind should cause the peloton less distress.
However, as the peloton ascend and escape the protection of the valleys the wind could, according to the race organisers, buffet the peloton.
The wind is predicted to arrive from a north-easterly to easterly direction, which could see the peloton pushing in to some headwinds and crosswinds while exposed.
We should be in for a high octane finish to Stage 5, with the stage finishing nearby Sanabria Lake.
The approach in to the finishing shall be relatively flat, and ever so slightly downhill for the final kilometre, so the largest problem inhibiting a bunch sprint will be the road.
Positioning could be more crucial than usual with the numerous curves and bends present, while the road’s width could also be a factor.
Should the limelight not be stolen by a plucky breakaway, the stage should be contested by the sprinters.
However, with a vertical height gain of 2,460m many of the sprinters may be feeling a bit weary by the approach of the finishing line.
So the stage may be decided not just by who is the fastest and strong but also the freshest.
After his impressive sprint to secure third position during Stage 4, Michael Matthews has the perfect opportunity to claim his first victory in the 2013 Vuelta a Espana.
Orica-GreenEDGE managed to position Matthews for the uphill sprint despite losing Gerrans and Sulzberger to the Mirador de Ézaro and injury.
Leigh Howard will also be an option for the Australian outfit should Matthews be feeling off colour.
Meanwhile, Dutch outfit Argos-Shimano will be hopeful of scoring another Grand Tour stage victory with either Nikias Arndt, Ramon Sinkeldam, or Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg.
With all three sprinters eager to prove themselves, Argos-Shimano have the flexibility to support whichever is feeling the best that particular day, as they are all hopeful of getting opportunities to prove their worth in the sprints.
In comparison, American outfit Garmin-Sharp will be supporting a veteran American sprinter in Tyler Farrar.
While the American has never rediscovered the abilities which took him to a stage victory in the Tour de France, against this Vuelta a Espana field he should be able to prosper.
However, his cause will not be helped by the abandonment of Koldo Fernandez and the team’s split goal of protecting Irishman Dan Martin.
Another strong candidate for the stage victory will be Vacansoleil – DCM and Barry Markus. The young sprinter has been producing some promising results this season and will be keen to impress.
Vacansoleil – DCM should also have a capable enough lead-out train for the youngster with Grega Bole, Juan Antonio Flecha, and Lieuwe Westra.
The team could decide to support Grega Bole, however, due to the flat nature of the sprint it should suit Markus’ talents better.
Other teams who could potential throw a cat among the pigeons are Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, Lotto-Belisol, and FDJ.fr.
The flatness of the sprint does not suit Gianni Meersman’s abilities, though the roughness of the stage may tire the pure sprinters for an opportunity to open.
While Lotto-Belisol have brought a squad mixed with experience and youth, with cyclists like Gregory Henderson and Adam Hansen they could form a formidable lead-out for another young gun in Tosh Van der Sande.
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