Vuelta a España GC after stage 5: Remco Evenepoel increases lead after winning intermediate sprint

Stage 5 of the Vuelta a España 2023 was not likely to make much of a difference to the overall classification. Finally without a breakaway, the day was decided by a bunch sprint that Kaden Groves won again, taking his second consecutive victory in the Spanish Grand Tour.

However, there was time for Remco Evenepoel, the smartest of the class, to take the six-second bonus in the intermediate sprint that has allowed him to increase his lead over the rest of the riders in the general classification. In addition, Romain Bardet finished 5:29 back, which dropped him from 7th to 40th, and caused Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso, Marc Soler and Joao Almeida to move up one place into the Top 10.

RANKINGS OF THE VUELTA A ESPAÑA AFTER THE FIFTH STAGE

1. Remco Evenepoel

2. Enric Mas at 11".

3. Lenny Martinez at 17".

4. Jonas Vingegaard at 37".

5. Aleksandr Vlasov at 39".

6. Cian Uijtdebroeks at 39".

7. Primoz Roglic at 43".

8. Juan Ayuso at 44".

9. Marc Soler at 48".

10. Joao Almeida at 48".