Team Sky’s Rigobtero Uran came within a whisker of back-to-back stage victories at the Volta a Catalunya.
The Columbian, one of just three riders from the British team left in the race, with Bradley Wiggins among those to abandon, lost out to Saur-Sojasun’s Julien Simon in a sprint finish the end of the 207.1km fifth stage from Ascó to Manresa.
Uran had made a bid for overall victory earlier in the stage, breaking clear of a peloton containing race leader, Michael Albasini (GreenEDGE), but was reeled in.
Team Sky directeur sportif, Sean Yates, said: “It was very close today. Time is running out to get rid of Albasini and everybody was trying. When it comes down to a sprint after a climb like that Rigo stood a good chance and he came very close to doing the double.
“The group was thinned out a lot and the guys at the front are all high quality. It was fast and up and down. You can’t just ride off into the sunset!
“Rigo is going very well as so is the rest of the team. They are all helping each other the best they can.”
Uran stands fifth overall, tied with 15 other riders at 1.32 behind Albasini. Ireland’s Daniel Martin (Garmin-Barracuda) is third on the same time.
Tomorrow’s sixth stage takes the riders over an undulating parcourse of 169.4km from Sant Fruitos del Bages to Badalona.
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Volta a Catalunya stage five
1) Julien Simon (FRA) – Saur – Sojasun – 4:58:27
2) Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL) – Sky Procycling
3) Sylvester Szmyd (POL) – Liquigas-Cannondale
4) Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi
5) Dario Cataldo (ITA) – Omega Pharma – QuickStep
6) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto Belisol Team
7) Michael Albasini (SWI) – GreenEdge Cycling Team
8) Denis Menchov (RUS) – Katusha Team
9) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin-Barracuda
10) Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) – Pro Team Astana
General classification
1) Michael Albasini (SWI) – GreenEdge Cycling Team -17:23:51
2) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto Belisol Team + 1.32
3) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin-Barracuda
4) Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi
5) Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL) – Sky Procycling
6) Damiano Cunego (ITA) – Lampre-ISD
7) Thomas Danielson (USA) – Garmin-Barracuda
8) Sergio Pardilla Belllón (SPA) – Movistar Team
9) Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) – Pro Team Astana
10) Dario Cataldo (ITA) – Omega Pharma – QuickStep
