Gianni Meersman has won the fifth stage in the Vuelta a Espana. It’s already the second victory for the Belgian of Etixx-Quick Step. “I am really happy with this”, Styby says. “And I am also happy with my own performance.”
“The stage of today maybe didn’t look that hard, because there were only two guys in the breakaway. But it actually was hard. It began with the rain at the start. A little annoying after the good weather of the last days.”
The race started when Etixx-Quick Step took some initiative. “Martin Velits started to pull to bring down the breakaway. We succeeded, but the final was chaotic with a lot of corners and some uphill. Everybody wanted to be in front.”
“We stayed calm, even when Philippe Gilbert and Simon Clarke attacked. We caught them again and the stage finished with a sprint, just like we wanted. But the sprint didn’t go perfect. We lost Yves Lampaert, so I had to take some risk and go from really far.”
Styby was strong and began to sprint with 900 meters to go, with Gianni in his wheel. “I brought him with 200 meters to go. Gianni finished it off and I am so happy for that. I am also happy with my own performance. Especially after yesterday, when I was in the breakaway.”