Gomez Marchante tries for stage win

By Shane Stokes in La Covatilla

Saunier Duval rider Jose Angel Gomez Marchante looked like a likely winner in the closing kilometres of stage five, but eventually had to settle for fourth at the summit, 15 seconds back. He had successfully bridged across to breakaway riders Sergio Paulinho (Astana) and David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) with six kilometres to go but was later reeled in by Danilo Di Luca and Janez Brajkovic.

"I paid for the effort at the last moment," he told Spain's Onda Cero radio at the finish. "We had to try for it [the stage win]. I tried at the bottom of the last climb as the favourites were too careful. I almost did it and I hope I can keep up this form.

"I came here to this race after recovering from the Tour de France and the bronchitis I had there. I hope to fight on in such a way as to make the TV fans get up from the sofa [with excitement]."