"It's a team victory, without Agnoli and Taaramäe I would not have won."

Those were the words of Astana's Mikel Landa after stage five Vuelta al País Vasco. Landa and his teammates were in a breakaway for more than 100 km and the Spanish rider benefited from Agnoli's work and then from that of Taaramäe who made the decisive selection on the last climb before he rode away to win the stage.

"I am very happy," he added. "Taaramae and Agnoli did an enormous work. It was incredible and thanks to them I got to a position where I could try everything and it went well.

"It's my biggest win, especially because of my illness two months ago. I know you can not imagine how I felt. Furthermore, it's a WorldTour race. It is an important victory due to what I've gone through this winter. The good thing is that I may now have more strength than before.

"I was a little afraid of Danielson. He always seemed to be staying on the wheels. He is a very experienced rider. When Gallopin was dropped, I knew I was the one who had to control.

"The team has been phenomenal. We were three in the break. Agnoli emptied himself and Taaramae has also worked hard. I've only had to finish it off. 

Lieuwe Westra left the race early because of stomach problems after he had been the star of many attacks  in the previous stages.

Michele Scarponi is now fifith in thegeneral classification 22 seconds behind leader Sergio Luis Henao of Colombia.