Vuelta a España: Marc Soler wins stage five as Rudy Molard takes red jersey

24.08.2022 - 20:29 theguardian.com

Marc Soler ended Spain’s two-year wait for a stage winner at a Grand Tour as a late solo attack earned him victory on stage five of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday.

Frenchman Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) took the overall lead after a hilly 187.2km ride from Irun to Bilbao. UAE-Team Emirates rider Soler attacked from a chasing group to catch and pass Molard’s British teammate, Jake Stewart on the final climb and stayed away to cross the line four seconds clear.

Molard finished in that chasing group and seized the red jersey from Jumbo-Visma’s grasp. The defending champion, Primoz Roglic, took the overall lead on Tuesday but finished back in the peloton and is now fifth, four minutes and nine seconds back.

That will be of little concern to the Jumbo-Visma team at this early stage, with the Slovenian still favourite to claim overall victory.

Sporting FIVE as Team Emirates Marc Soler Primoz Roglic Fred Wright Britain Germany Spain Uae Slovenia Bahrain

Adam Blythe believes the future is “bright and big” for Juan Ayuso following his third-place finish at La Vuelta – and thinks the 19-year-old must go to the Tour de France next year. Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) produced an impressive showing on his Grand Tour debut to make it onto the podium behind winner Remco Evenepoel and runner-up Enric Mas. Ad He is the youngest rider to finish in the top three at La Vuelta and second youngest to ever make a podium at a Grand Tour after Henri Cornet, who won the Tour de France in 1904.

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