3 years ago by Tom Owen

A pair of top 10s in Zipaquirá

news
Joyce sprints to fifth on penultimate stage of Tour Colombia, Mannion defends GC position

This classic sprinter’s stage saw Rally Cycling repeat their team performances from stages two and three to deliver Colin Joyce into a great position for the finale. Joyce was caught up in the chaos as the sprinters chased down a late attack, but still managed to maneuver his way to an impressive fifth place. It’s his second top 10 of the Tour Colombia. Finishing safe in the pack was Gavin Mannion, who maintained his eighth place on GC. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) made it three stage wins from three sprints.

DATE |  2.15.20
DISTANCE |  180.5 km
Roster
Route

Saying ‘bye, bye, Boyaca’ and heading south toward the city of Zipaquirá in the department of Cundinamarca.

Terrain

Some early climbing, but too far out from the finish to deny the sprint teams their final chance at victory.

Weather

Another sunny day, but a cross-headwind makes life a little more difficult.

Quote of the day

“It was a big fight those last 10km. Super sketchy. But the guys did a great job and helped put me in good position. I felt pretty good, just wasn't quite where I needed to be in that last kilometer. Happy with how the team is riding though and still always a positive being in the mix!”

– Colin Joyce
DECISIVE MOMENTS

- People of Zipaquira are out in force to welcome the riders, with passionate fans lining the road from 20 km out.

- All five Rally Cycling riders take up a prominent position near the front of the peloton as stage 5 ramps up in intensity, riding shoulder to shoulder with UAE Team Emirates and Deceuninck - Quick Step.

- Late counter from Bob Jungels (Deceuninck - Quick Step) creates panic among the sprinters.

- Joyce keeps a cool head amid the chaos. He surfs the wheels, but can’t find a clear way through the traffic until the final 500 meters. He crosses the line in fifth.

LUIS BARBOSA gallery
lay of the land

Tomorrow’s stage is set to be “a bloodbath” according to Mannion, as all riders with a stake in the overall set out to improve their final placing. The category 2 ascent to Alto del Verjón is certain to decide the final standings, a grueling 9.4-kilometer ascent above the capital city of Bogota. Mannion's teammates will be pulling for him, with the aim of giving Mannion as good a shot as possible to defend his spot from the likes of Fabio Aru (Vuelta winner) and Esteban Chaves (five-time Grand Tour stage winner) who both sit below him.

Stage 5 results

1 Juan Sebastian Molano Benavides (Col) UAE Team Emirates 4:06:00
2 Alvaro Jose Hodeg Chagui (Col) Deceuninck-Quickstep
3 Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia (Col) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
4 Travis McCabe (USA) Israel Start-Up Nation
5 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling
6 Juan Francisco Rosales Hernandez (Mex) Canel's Pro Cycling
7 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Team Ineos
8 Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas (Col) Israel Start-Up Nation
9 Lars Saugstad (Nor) Uno-X Norwegian Development Team
10 Diego Antonio Ochoa Camargo (Col) EPM-Scott

In other news

Gracias, Colombia! 🇨🇴

Mannion ascends to top 10 in Colombia