Star Metro - Brennan blasts to Vuelta stage five victory, Pogacar holds lead

General classification leader Tadej Pogacar, the overwhelming favourite to win the race, stayed in the red jersey and maintained his solid overall lead.

On Tuesday, Slovenian UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar produced a sensational 50-kilometre solo effort to stun his rivals and take control of La Vuelta.

Pogacar, aiming for a Grand Tour grand slam, holds a 3min 21sec lead on compatriot and four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic, in second place.

"You can see throughout the day everyone just went full, I'm very thankful to finish it off again," said Visma-Lease a bike's Brennan, who also won stage two.

"Last corner I lost my wheel a bit but glad I could stay safe," added the 21-year-old. "Glad we could finish with our arms in the air."

After starting in Monaco and heading to France and Andorra, the race finally entered Spain with a 173.3km run from Falset -- south west of Barcelona -- to Roquetes, with a profile inviting the sprint finish.

A small group got up the road near the start of the stage and established a gap of more than two minutes.

However, on a windy day the pace was high and the peloton caught the breakaway with nearly 100km remaining.

Brennan was given a perfect lead-out from his high-calibre Visma team-mates Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte.

Belgian cyclist Meeus was on Brennan's wheel but did not come close to threatening the Briton.

"When you have Matthew Brennan there in a group like that, it's the best card to play," said Van Aert.

"It comes close," he added with a grin, when asked if helping guide Brennan to victory was a good as winning a stage himself.

Italian rider Vincenzo Albanese completed the stage five podium ahead of compatriot Alessandro Romele.

Thursday's stage six runs 177.5km from Alcossebre to Castello with four categorised climbs, including a dirt road in the final ascent.

A.Rogen--SMC