Vuelta a Espana: Marc Soler wins stage five as Rudy Molard claims overall lead

Spain’s Marc Soler won stage five of the Vuelta a Espana as Rudy Molard claimed the overall race lead from defending champion Primoz Roglic in Bilbao.

UAE Team Emirates rider Soler prevailed from the breakaway after launching a solo attack with 15 kilometres to go.

France’s Molard crossed the line fourth, among a group of 10 riders to finish four seconds after Soler.

Britain’s Fred Wright is up to second overall after finishing third.

Wright, 23, who came in behind South Africa’s Daryl Impey in a sprint for the remaining bonus seconds, is two seconds behind new red jersey wearer Molard.

Former leader Roglic finished in the peloton five minutes and nine seconds after Soler to sit over four minutes back in the early general classification.

“I was feeling strong but I’m disappointed, I was just too marked,” Wright, who is yet to win a Grand Tour stage, told Eurosport.

“We should have caught him, plain and simple, but it just didn’t happen. It’s a shame that I’m close to that win again. I’m sure there will be better days.”

Compatriot Jake Stewart, 22, had launched a solo attack with over 20km of the 187.2km stage from Irun remaining and was able to establish a 30-second advantage.

However Soler countered, passing the Briton in the last kilometre of the day’s final climb – the second category Alto del Vivero.

A group of chasers, including Wright and Stewart, appeared within striking distance of Soler but there was little support for Wright as he looked to bridge the gap in the closing stages.

Soler’s win ended Spain’s two-year wait for a stage winner at a Grand Tour.

Stage six on Thursday is a mountainous 181.2km route which brings a summit finish at Ascension al Pico Jano/San Miguel de Aguayo – with the gruelling 12.6km final stretch including three sections that average 11% or more in gradient.