Cycling: Tour of Catalonia: Pantano wins, Valverde ahead

The Colombian professional cyclist Jarlinson Pantano has completed the fifth stage of the 98. Catalonia Tour won, defending champion Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar remains the leader in the overall standings after finishing eighth in the daily standings.

28-year-old Pantano of Team Trek-Segafredo won after 212.9 difficult kilometres on the long mountain stage to Vielha Val d’Aran ahead of the Norwegian Vegard Stake Längen (UAE Emirates), Valverde (Spain) was 14 seconds behind.

Together with Valverde, Egan Arley Bernal (Sky) and his Movistar team mate Nairo Quintana (both from Colombia) also reached the finish. Bernal is 16 seconds behind Valverde, who had won leg four on Thursday, Quintana (+26 seconds) remains third.

Best German on Friday was Maximilian Schachmann (Berlin/Quick-Step Floors), who finished 46th. also crossed the finish line with the Valverde Group.

The penultimate stage on Saturday over 194.2 km to Torrefarrera offers rather the sprinters a chance, the round trip ends on Sunday in Barcelona.