Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) outsprinted Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) to grab victory on stage five of the Volta a Catalunya, and extend his lead in the overall standings.
On the steep summit finish of Lo Port, Evenepoel looked to have the win wrapped up with the line in sight. The world champion unleashed a powerful final sprint, although Roglič was onto him and capitalised as the Belgian faded.
As the steep final climb began, Soudal Quick-Step led the peloton with Jan Hirt setting a relentless pace preparing to set Evenepoel up. Suddenly, the Belgian launched a stinging move which only Roglič and Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates could follow). Soler’s teammate Joao Almeida bridged across to the trio, and appeared to be the strongest as the tough gradients began to take their toll.
With under a kilometre to go, Almeida launched a move with the line in sight, but Evenepoel was able to follow. The Belgian sprinted over the top of Almeida, although he soon began to fade. Roglič then capitalised on a fatigued Evenepoel to pass him and take the win on the line.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a day of respite which was dominated by the sprinters, it was back into the high mountains for a summit finish on the brutal Lo Port climb.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) were expected to contest the stage, with Evenepoel looking to nudge ahead of the Slovenian in the overall standings. After his stage three win on La Molina, the duo were tied on overall time, with Roglič ahead due to bonus seconds.
When the flag dropped a group of six got up the road, looking to build a solid advantage before the climbing began in the latter half of the stage. Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) and Guillame Martin (Cofidis) were briefly involved, although they were unable to keep tabs on their breakaway compatriots, and were soon back in the main field. The six leaders were Ibai Azurmendi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Equipo Kern Pharma trio Pablo Castrillo, José Félix Parra and Héctor Carretero, Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural) and Tsgabu Grmay (Jayco AIUla).
With 24 kilometres to go, Soudal Quick-Step were dominating the front of the peloton, looking to ensure that Evenepoel was perfectly placed at the foot of Lo Port. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was buzzing around the front of the bunch, with an eye to potentially testing his legs once the tougher gradients arrived. The breakaway had two minutes exactly on the peloton when the riders passed…