Pantano wins handsome fifth stage Tour of Catalonia after a long escape

The Colombian Jarlinson Pantano (Pull Segafredo), the fifth stage in the Tour of Catalonia won. The Trek rider was after 213 miles between Llívia and Vielha, the fastest of a beautiful breakaway group of twelve riders, including Maxime Monfort. In the end of the contest, the group was swallowed up by the peloton, but he escaped just in time from the group with Vegard Laengen and then he the I beat in the sprint. The Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) retains the lead in the general classification.

The stage provided a col from the outside and one of the first category for the riders. The race was coloured by a quick breakaway of ten riders with as most striking figure, our compatriot Maxime Monfort. He was accompanied by Wyss, Pantano, Didier, Bidard, Laengen, Visconti, Agnoli, Chernetski, Simon, Molina, and Bulb. The group remained for a long time for the peloton and it was only at the end bijgegehaald, but the Colombian Jarlinson Pantano did just in time to slip through, and as the first about the meet to come

Maxime Monfort (Lotto Soudal) was the only fellow in a flight of twelve. Next to him became too Pantano, Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain-Merida) and the Dutchman Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon) the escape. The peloton left back for a long time committed and so it remained the lead fluctuate to three minutes. In the lock reason Laengen and Pantano road in their vluchtgenoten. In the descent to the finish remained with the two fighting for a limited advantage. They did eventually move forward and Pantano freewheelde to the victory. The 29-year-old Colombian won two years ago, stages in the Tour and the Tour of Switzerland. Bjorg Lambrecht eventually became the first Belgian to go on to the tenth spot.

Saturday awaits the riders in Catalonia, again a hilly stage, over 194,2 km between Vielha Val d’aran and Torrefarrera. Especially during the opening stages of the ride goes up and down. The Tour of Catalonia ends on Sunday with a criterium through the streets of Barcelona.