Vuelta 2017: Lutsenko wins 5th stage on steep summit finish, Froome still in red

The hilly 5th stage of La Vuelta runs to the first summit finish in this edition of the Spanish Grand Tour. On the steep last climb attacker Lutsenko heads out on his own to solo to victory. Kudus comes in second, while Froome cements his overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2017 Vuelta

1. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz)
2. Merhawi Kudus (eri) + 0.42
3. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.56
4. Matej Mohoric (slo) + 1.11
5. Alexis Gougeard (fra) + 1.24
6. Marco Haller (aut) + 1.37
7. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 1.40
8. Jetse Bol (nld) + 2.04
9. Matvey Mamykin (rus) + 2.18
10. Jéremy Maison (fra) + 2.31

13. Alberto Contador (spa) + 4.31
14. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
15. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
16. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
17. Tejay van Garderen (Vs) + 4.39
18. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.42
19. Nicolas Roche (irl) s.t.
20. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
21. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
22. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
23. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
24. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.
26. Simon Yates (gbr) + 4.52
27. Carlos Betancur (col) s.t.
30. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 4.57
33. Rui Costa (por) + 5.08
35. Wout Poels (nld) + 5.10
37. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 5.17
39. Romain Bardet (fra) + 5.20

GC after the 5th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.10
3. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.11
4. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 0.13
5. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.23
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.36
7. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.49
8. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.50
9. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.09
10. Michael Woods (can) + 1.13

11. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.28
12. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.37
13. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.40
14. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.43
16. Carlos Betancur (col) + 1.56
19. Wout Poels (nld) + 2.23
21. Rui Costa (por) + 2.35
22. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 2.38
23. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.42
25. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 2.52
26. Alberto Contador (spa) + 3.10

Race report
Shortly after the start Julian Alaphilippe, Marc Soler, Davide Villella, Marco Haller, Jérémy Maison, Merhawi Kudus, Lluis Mas, Michel Kreder and Jetse Bol jump clear from the pack, while Rubén Fernandez, Michael Schwarzmann, Alexis Gougeard, Matej Mohoric, Alexey Lutsenko, Valerio Agnoli and Hector Saeza chase them down. Matvey Mamykin is the last rider to bridge across.

Villella is first to crest all intermediate climbs – Desierto de las Palmas, Cabanes, Bandereta and Serratella – to cement his KOM lead. Schwarzmann and Saez are dropped on the Alto de la Serratella, while Haller heads out on his own in the downhill. Lutsenko and Mohoric chase him down, but Mohoric can’t follow the pace.

When hitting the last climb the leaders are half a minute ahead of the first chasers, Gougeard and Kudus. Alaphilippe, Soler and Mohoric are close behind, too.

On the lower slopes Lutsenko heads out on his own, while Kudus leaves Gougeard behind to try to chase Kazakh down. Yet, Lutsenko climbs to victory.

Moscon tortures the GC contenders on the climb until Froome tacks on an acceleration in the final kilometre that only Contador, Chaves, Woods and Van Garderen can follow. The American eventually cracks and loses 8 seconds, but still moves up to second overall, 10 seconds down on the red jersey. Chaves keeps the same gap of 11 seconds while he moves up to third.

Nibali and Bardet are the most prominent losers, while a group of GC riders comes in 11 seconds behind Froome.