Tim Wellens wins stage 5 in Vuelta a España and extends his contract

Lotto Soudal’s Tim Wellens claimed the stage win in Sabiñanigo after beating Guillaume Martin and Thymen Arensman in a three-man sprint. Wellens becomes also leader in the mountains classification. The three sprinted for the stage having broken clear from a larger breakaway group that formed earlier in the stage. After the stage Wellens announced having extended his contract with the team until end of 2022.

"At the start of La Vuelta it was the goal of the team to win one stage”, commented aggressive rider Tim Wellens, who went in the break already for the third time in this Vuelta . “It is super nice that it comes so early in the stage race. So now the next two weeks we can ride without stress. This morning I already had a plan to join the breakaway. The start was super difficult. We went full gas for two hours. Then I was lucky enough to be in the first group. The cooperation was difficult since we had two riders with a good GC classification present. Then we attacked with three riders and the cooperation was much better. We were all three at the same level. I could finish it off on the steep finish."

Tim Wellens, multiple winner of some stage races, won already two stages in the Giro. This is his first one in the Vuelta. After a difficult classics campaign, Tim Wellens insisted on participating in La Vuelta to color his short and different 2020 season.

"I had a difficult period with a big crash in the run-up to Tour de France. I made a comeback in Tour de Luxembourg but I needed a long time to find back my good legs. So, I was a little bit scared to come into this Vuelta. But I am super happy with this stage victory”, explained Tim Wellens.

Tim Wellens, who still had a contract with Lotto Soudal until end of 2021 was very happy to announce that he extended his contract until end of 2022.

“I became professional in this team in 2012. Lotto Soudal is part of my family. With them I won six stages and nice one-day races. Why should I change? I feel good. The team trusts me and I have a lot of confidence in the team’s future. Our future looks good”, concluded Tim Wellens.