Wednesday’s 5th stage of Vuelta a España provided the sprinters in the peloton their first chance to shine in this year’s edition of the Spanish Grand Tour.

Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre-Merida) was one of the sprinters who was ready to pounce and in fact he was in the proper place at the right time, but he was preceded in the sprint by Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE).

The Argentinian rider thus obtained his 6th runner-up spot this season.

"I received a perfect back up from my team-mates, especially Mori made an outstanding move in leading me to the head of the group at 2 km to go,” Richeze explained. “There, I tried to follow Matthews's wheel, but there was no space and so many riders fighting, so I spent a lot of energy before the sprint.

When Matthews began his action, I tried to cover him and also thanks to the wind I went near his wheel, but it was not enough. Maybe, if I had started the sprint just behind him, I could have had some chances.

Tomorrow there will be another good chance for sprinters and I’ll definitely try my luck again.”