2021 Vuelta a España Stage 5 Results & Recap
Stage 5 of the 2021 Vuelta a España is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Philipsen wins second stage at La Vuelta
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) took his second win at the 2021 La Vuelta today after a long, hot slog through the pan-flat plains of Spain today. The Alpecin Fenix team once again outshone the Deceuninck - Quick-step team in a fierce battle for accolades in the opening week. Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) took third after a nervous finale that saw a big crash in the closing kilometres.
“It’s even more beautiful [than stage 2] if you look at the final 5km," Philipsen said. "We were all up there with the team. I cannot describe that. It’s incredible what we all do for each other and it’s beautiful that we can finish it up together. Yesterday, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t do my sprint as we wanted. To win today is super nice to turn the page from yesterday. I’m not necessarily thinking about having the green jersey at the end of La Vuelta, but of course, it’s super nice to try to wear it day by day and we’ll see how far we can go. It would be a dream [to win the next sprint with the green jersey]. Yesterday, it didn’t bring too much luck, so let’s hope it will work out in the next sprint.”
Red jersey Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux) was one of the riders caught up in the crash, and subsequently the Estonian lost the Roja, but instead will wear the king of the mountains jersey tomorrow. Kenny Elissonde (Trek - Segafredo) is the new leader of the Vuelta. The French climber has five seconds on Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
“I was in the top 10 positions when the crash happened so I did not see any of it," Elissonde said." I was afraid that our leader Giulio Ciccone was not in our group. But he came back. This is not the way I wanted to take the jersey but we know that in cycling when there is wind, there is a risk. You can lose everything in the echelons so you have to be vigilant. I don't like the way it happened. It was not a pleasure. But at the end of the day, there was nothing else I could do. It's true that I've spent most of my career riding as a domestique. To have this jersey now is incredible. I have done the Tour de France and the Olympics. The team asked me if I could do La Vuelta as well. That's the beauty of cycling: I'm here in the lead of a Grand Tour!”\n
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