Vuelta a España – Stage 5 – Marcel Aregger – It is my birthday, but I stayed focused throughout the race and did my best to help place Vicente Reynes –

The Tour of Spain has recently been specializing in finishes with sharp climbs; oftentimes quite steep, but not hard enough to shed the sprinters.  This fifth stage proved to be a perfect illustration.  On the final ramp that lead up to the line, Caleb Ewan (Orica – GreenEDGE) won with art and style, beating John Degenkolb (Giant – Alpecin) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff – Saxo), both of whom were powerless against the young Australian’s explosiveness.  A 21 year old neo-pro, this was Ewan’s first grand tour victory, and his team’s second of the Vuelta this year. 

But there was a tinge of disappointment in the Australian camp today since Esteban Chaves has lost his lead in the overall since he missed out on a late split of the peloton racing across the line. Tom Dumoulin (Giant – Alpecin) was the beneficiary, taking over the leader’s jersey after this stage between Rota and Alcalá de Guadaíra.  As for IAM Cycling, in spite of multiple efforts to shake up the proceedings on this hot day, the riders went unrewarded.  Vicente Reynes was the top ranked member of the Swiss team, crossing the line 37 seconds after the day’s winner.

Shade is a rare commodity in Andalusia, though the heat is ubiquitous.  So when facing a race of just over 168 kilometers in 37 degree heat with a savage finish, it is necessary to be careful in one’s strategy.  “We tried to do our maximum to help set up Vicente Reynes for the sprint,” explained Marcel Aregger.  “There was basically a 100% chance that this was going to end in a sprint, and that’s why the beginning of the stage was so odd.  Everyone knew that the day would be decided only in the last kilometers, so nobody wanted to go in the break.  The first part of the race, we were doing something like 25km/h, but then suddenly the pack began to ride at full speed.”

“This change of pace was pretty amazing.  Today was special for me because it is my birthday, but I stayed focused throughout the race and did my best to help place Vicente.  Tonight we will have time to celebrate, but within reason, of course.  Day after day, I feel better and better, and I am trying my best to support the riders we are protecting for a given day.  Unfortunately, luck has not been on our side so far, but eventually our efforts will pay off.”

Mario Chiesa, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling at the Vuelta along with Eddy Seigneur, shares his rider’s optimism.  “This finish was climbing for the last 800 meters, but it was not particularly hard.  I really regret that we lost Matteo Pelucchi because I am sure that this final would have suited him. Now when we look to the next stages, everything points to the possibility that a breakaway will succeed.  It will be hard for the peloton to control the breaks every day on these types of profiles. So with this in mind, we will try to go on the offensive and slip into the good breaks.”