13-May-2015: Etixx – Quick-Step rider Rigoberto Uran finished 17th, 1’59” down on solo stage winner Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida), in the 152km Giro d’Italia Stage 5 summit finish of Abetone on Wednesday.
Polanc went solo out of the original five-rider breakaway with about 10km to go in the stage, after the breakaway was given as much as an 11 minute advantage at one point. Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) did his best to chase Polanc, but finished 1’31” down in 2nd. Fabio Aru (Astana) was 3rd out of a chase group that had just caught up to Chavanel before the line.
Aru’s group included Richie Porte (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo). Those three went ahead of the peloton after Contador originally attacked with 4.5km to go. Those three kept trying to attack each other, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Uran was in a group behind trying his best to minimize time loss. He crossed 28″ down on the Contador group. Uran is now 12th in the GC, 1’22” down on Contador as the new race leader.
Etixx – Quick-Step looks next to a 183km Stage 6 on Thursday. The stage is flat at the beginning and end, but has a Category 4 climb and plenty of undulation in the middle of the parcours.
“To me the first part of the Giro has been a bit difficult,” Uran said. “Yesterday I lost time and today another few seconds. But the Giro is long, and we will see what can happen in the next stages and in the second week. Of course I would like to be more in the front, but that’s my condition right now. We will see how I can improve in the next days. The Giro is full of opportunities. “
