The fifth stage was the best for the breakaway. The 157 km from Lille to Arenberg was completed with a sprint by the four survivors.
Simon Clarke is the strongest competitor this Wednesday. After a photo-finish, the 35-year old Australian skippered Taco Van den Hoorn. Only seconds separated were Neilson Powless and Edvald Boasson Hagen.
After winning the team time trial on the 4th stage of the Tour in 2013, the rider from Israel - Premier Tech has won his first individual success at the Grande Boucle.
"What I feel today transcends what I could have imagined... I try not to miss the opportunities. That's what I did today. "Why not me ?''.?" This morning I thought to myself. You had to believe it, even with five riders in front. After the race, the winner of the day said that it was a great breakaway.
"I tried to save my self as much as I could. Taco van der Hoorn was strong. I gave my all. I felt leg cramps and tried to accelerate as fast as I could. I can sprint when necessary, and I proved that by winning the Vuelta.
Simon Clarke couldn't have run the 2022 Grande Boucle. After the December 2021 shutdown, Simon Clarke, a Melbourne native, was without a team due to his contract with Qhubeka NextHash.
He believed that he would be forced to retire if he didn't get a proposal.
The Israel-Premier Tech team finally knocked at the door. "Last winter I was without a contract. Simon Clarke, after his win, says thank you to his team.
The Vuelta was double solo stage winner in 2012 and 2018, the Vuelta was the first team stage of 2015, and the Australian won the pink jersey for one-day. He waited until he turned 35 to claim the greatest victory of all his life, the man who has never finished higher than 61st overall (2019) after three weeks of competition.
The main interest party comments on his social media networks, "Today, a childhood dream is realized." I am grateful to all who have supported and believed in my abilities over the past 20 years.
