MADRID, April 9, 2010 (AFP) – Spain’s Joaquin Rodriguez of Katusha won the fifth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country Friday while his compatriot Alejandro Valverde, of the Caisse d’Epargne team, retained the overall lead.

Rodriguez attacked out of the peloton with about 20 kilometres to go and crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Spanish rider of Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel.

“It was only when there was little more than two miles to go to the finish line that I looked back and saw that they were not coming,” he said after the race.

“Now it is time to celebrate with my teammates and we will see about tomorrow.”

The 31-year-old completed the stage, a 170-kilometer run between Eibar and Orio, in 4hr 07min and 52sec, in 4hr 07min and 52sec.

Valverde, one of the favourites to win the overall crown, finished in third, just behind Sanchez to retain the overall leaders’ yellow jersey.

The 50th Tour of the Basque Country ends Saturday with a 22km time trial in Orio.

Stage
1. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha 4hr 07min 52sec, 2. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) at 14sec, 3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) same time, 4. Christopher Horner (USA) s.t., 5. Sandy Casar (FRA) at 20sec, 6. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) s.t., 7. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) s.t., 8. Dries Devenyns (BEL) s.t., 9. Jurgen van den Broeck
(BEL) s.t., 10. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA)

Overall
1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d’Epargne 22hr 54min 56sec, 2.
Christopher Horner (USA) at 01sec, 3. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) at 34sec, 4.
Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA) at 38sec, 5. Benat Intxausti (ESP) s.t., 6. Andy Schleck (LUX) at 45sec, 7. Marco Pinotti (ITA) at 54sec, 8. Robert Gesink
(NED) s.t., 9. Sandy Casar (FRA) s.t., 10. Dries Devenyns (BEL) at 1min 16sec