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Behind stage winner Damiano Cunego, Astana Cycling Team leader Alberto Contador finished second in the fifth stage of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. Due to rain and cold, the four climb stage was very difficult. On the last climb of the day, the fearsome Puerto de Aia, a 26 percent gradient climb, 13 K from the finish line in Orio, Contador attacked with Spanish champion Joaquin Rodriguez. Cadel Evans and Frank Schleck joined the two. In the descent, thirteen other riders did the same. Due to a crash of Ricardo Ricco and David Herrero in the last 500 meters, the leading group dispersed. Contador started the sprint but was overcome by Damiano Cunego, who took his first victory of 2008. Thomas Dekker was third, 5 seconds behind. Cadel Evans lost 29 seconds. Because the incident occurred in the last 3 K, all 17 riders got the same time so that the time trial of tomorrow will be decisive.
The Tour of the Basque Country ends tomorrow with a 20 K individual time trial in Orio. Alberto Contador defends his yellow jersey but only has an 8 seconds advantage on nine riders.

Alberto Contador was already glad that he did not crash or did not loose time. “The climb of Aia was steep and difficult, but too short to provoke changes in the GC. However, it must have been big spectacle for the public.”

Result:
1. Damiano Cunego; 2. Alberto Contador; 3. Thomas Dekker; 4. Kim Kirchen; 5. Davide Rebellin; 6. Joaquin Rodriguez; 7. Ezequiel Mosquera 0.15; 8. Maxime Monfort (same time as Cunego); 9. Mikel Astarloza (s.t. Cunego); 10. Igor Antón 0.20; 11. Chris Horner (s.t.Cunego); 12. Sandy Casar 0.25; 13. David López 0.25; 14. Cadel Evans (s.t. Cunego); 15. Frank Schleck (s.t. Cunego); 16. David Garcia 01.12; 23. Riccardo Ricco (s.t. Cunego); 43. David Herrero (s.t. Cunego).