Alexey Lutsenko wins Vuelta stage five as Chris Froome extends lead
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 27/08/17 2:39pm
Alexey Lutsenko broke clear on the uphill finish at Alcossebre to win stage five of the Vuelta a Espana as Chris Froome extended his overall lead on Wednesday.
Astana rider Lutsenko fended off Dimension Data's Merhawi Kudus to move ahead on the assault up Ermita Santa Lucia to cross the line some 42 seconds clear.
Spaniard Marc Soler took third for Movistar, 56 seconds behind Lutsenko.
Froome, aiming to become the third man to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same year, was more than four minutes down on the leaders, but the Team Sky rider still extended his slim advantage in the general classification standings.
A breakway group of 16 riders pushed the pace over the 175.7km stage from Benicassim, with Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin) joining Lutsenko in a late surge on the descent of the Alto de la Serratella, but the Austrian could not last the distance during the closing 45km.
Frome's overall lead now stands at 10 seconds from American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) and 11 seconds ahead of Esteban Chaves, the Colombian Orica-Scott rider.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche is in fourth place, but the BMC racer is only 13 seconds off the red jersey.
Orica-Scott duo Adam and Simon Yates are eighth and ninth, 50 seconds and 1min 09secs behind respectively.
Thursday's sixth stage will run over 204.4km from Villarreal to Sagunto and include a second category climb on Puerto del Garbi.
