Team Sky's Wout Poels claims stage five win at Volta a Catalunya
By Jonathon Moar
Last Updated: 26/03/16 4:58pm
Wout Poels broke free late on to secure victory in the fifth stage of the Volta a Catalunya, as Nairo Quintana held on to the overall lead.
With around 4km remaining on the final climb, Team Sky rider Poels made his escape from a breakaway group and crossed the line 11 seconds ahead of a chasing group of four riders.
It was also a good day for Quintana (Movistar), who retained the overall lead at the conclusion of the 187km medium-mountain race from Rialp to Valls.
Quintana had secured top spot ahead of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Richie Porte (BMC Racing) on Thursday, and will now look to survive the final two stages to clinch the overall victory.
There was no change at the top of the general classification standings, with Contador and Porte staying second and third respectively with safe finishes, while Ireland's Dan Martin (Etixx - Quick-Step) remains in fourth, after previously leading ahead of Thursday's fourth stage.
Two-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome (Team Sky) finished safely in the pack, and remains eighth overall, trailing Quintana by 46 seconds.
Attention now turns to Saturday, and a flat 197km stage that should favour the sprinters. It is then on to Barcelona as the week-long race reaches its conclusion.
Meanwhile, Team Sky's Geraint Thomas withdrew from the Tour prior to Friday's fifth stage, after falling from 10th to 53rd overall following stage four.
"Never good pulling out of a race but not been 100% since last week, need to stop digging this hole and rest up. Big race week Sunday," Thomas posted on social media.
Stage five result
1. Wout Poels (Net/Team Sky) 3:59:03''
2. Dario Cataldo (Esp/Astana Pro Team) +0:11
3. Gaetan Bille (Bel/Wanty - Groupe Goubert) Same Time
4. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr/Dimenson Data) Same Time
5. Carlos Verona (Esp/Etixx - Quick-Step) +0:13
6. Simon Gerrans (Aus/Orica GreenEDGE) + 0:33
7. Alexey Tsatevich (Rus/Team Katusha) ST
8. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita/Wanty - Groupe Goubert) ST
9. Davide Cimolai (Ita/Lampre - Merida) ST
10. Ben Swift (Gbr/Team Sky) ST
General Classification
1. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) 23:01:19"
2. Alberto Contador (Esp/Tinkoff) +7"
3. Richie Porte (Aus/BMC Racing) +17"
4. Daniel Martin (Ire/Etixx - Quick-Step) +21"
5. Tejay Van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +27"
6. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +32"
7. Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) +42"
8. Chris Froome (Gbr/Team Sky) +46"
9. Hugh Carthy (Gbr/Caja Rural) +1:01"
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Cannondale) +1:16"
