What started out as a potential sprint opportunity for Team Giant-Alpecin turned into a damage limitation day as the GC favourites shone again once more on stage five of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

Warren Barguil was first home once again from the team in the second main group on the road around 1’40” back after the race split to pieces in crosswinds that caught them napping and saw them miss the front selection. At the front of the are a well timed solo move by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in the final kilometres saw him take the stage win while Richie Porte (Sky) moved into the overall race lead.

The stage started well for the team with a small, controllable breakaway moving clear and behind it the guys started to help set the pace, but the peloton splintered in a long exposed section with echelons breaking the race up and forcing a GC selection at the front of the race. Team Giant-Alpecin missed out on getting numbers in the front and were left fighting for what they could, with Barguil the only rider in the chase group at the end of the day.

After the stage, coach Addy Engels said of the stage: “Today the plan was to ride for Luka and go for a sprint but once again the GC situation didn’t help us. It started with a  perfect situation with three riders ahead and a few teams, including us chasing. Then in an exposed crosswind section the race just exploded. We made a slight mistake and got caught out, but in the end it was a big fight between the GC favourites again anyway so there was little chance of the sprint we wanted.

“Warren did well to finish in the second group and the guys are still focused and pushing for results here which is good to see after a real hard week.”

Lawson Craddock added his thoughts on how he has been getting back into racing here in Catalunya, “Things have been going pretty well so far. At the start of the race I was a little worried that I would fall apart after two or three days but I’ve actually felt stronger and stronger as the race has gone on. It’s an encouraging thought especially when I’ve spent four of the last six weeks on an indoor bike!”