Nicolas Roche extends stint in Vuelta climbers' jersey; Dan Martin loitering with intent

Dan Martin is sitting pretty at the moment in the Vuelta. Having climbed well thus far, he looks relaxed and ready for what's set to be a brutal third week.

By Gavin McLoughlin

Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin finished safely in the pack as stage 5 of the Vuelta a Espana concluded in a bunch sprint today, Wednesday.

Saxo-Tinkoff’s Roche arrived home in 16^th and remains third on general classification, 8 seconds behind the red jersey of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). The Irishman also continues to hold the lead in the mountains and combined classifications.

Garmin-Sharp leader Martin finished in 79^th and is still 1:47 off the race lead. The Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner is 31^st in the overall standings and is expected to do plenty of damage when the race enters into its toughest phase in the second half of the three week Tour.

Today’s leg was a 174-kilometre ride from Sober to Lago de Sanabria. The only categorised climbs were two third-category ascents, with the second peaking about 30 kilometres from the finish line.

However, the road curved upward for much of the route and so the burning question was whether the pure sprinters would be able to contest the stage victory.

A five-man breakaway was allowed up the road early on, consisting of Winner Anacona (Lampre-Merida), Jurgen Van de Walle (Lotto-Belisol), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Antonio Piedra (Caja Rural) and Arnaud Courteille (Française des Jeux).

Martin’s Garmin-Sharp team showed the most desire behind, taking over the pace-setting with 100 kilometres to go in support of their American sprinter Tyler Farrar.

Assistance came from Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Orica-Green Edge, and slowly but surely the leaders’ advantage melted away. The sprinters managed to cling on to the peloton and a mass gallop seemed inevitable.

Out front, with 10 kilometres remaining and the gap standing around 50 seconds, Courteille launched a brave, last-ditch effort to stay clear. Soon he was joined by Van de Walle, but their efforts were in vain.

Further speculative attacks came from world champion Phillippe Gilbert (BMC) and Pablo Urtasun (Euskaltel-Euskadi), but these men were hauled back as an efficient-looking Argos-Shimano lead-out train slotted into position.

Argos were working for the young German Nikias Arndt, but none could match the power of Orica-GreenEdge's Michael Matthews. In a muscular effort that showcased his considerable potential, the 22-year-old Australian blazed past to take a comfortable stage victory, the first in a Grand Tour for the former U23 world champion.

Tomorrow’s stage is a 175-kilometre run from Guijuelo to Cáceres. It looks certain to conclude in another bunch sprint, so the Irish duo will seek to hold station again.

@gavmcloughlin