Spaniards in charge

The fifth stage took riders through the mountains

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Juan Miguel Mercado won the fifth stage of the Tour of Spain between Gijon and Lagos de Covadonga on Wednesday.

His Spanish compatriot Oscar Sevilla of the Kelme team seized the leader's yellow jersey from the Colombian Santiago Botero, another Kelme rider.

Mercado was 33 seconds clear of Oscar Sevilla at the mountain finish with Joseba Beloki, another Spaniard, in third a further 23 seconds behind.

However, the peleton remained stuck together as they negotiated the last major obstacle of the tour.

The Banesto team set a fast pace from the start and Switzerland's Alex Zulle, Spain's Abraham Olano, Italy's Marco Pantani and France's Richard Virenque fell by the wayside.

Other challengers, including the yellow jersey wearer Botero, ran out of steam half way up the mountain when US Postal were setting the pace within the leading group.

When Mercado, winner of the Tour of Burgos, made his attack, no-one was able to follow.

Seeing Mercado go clear, Sevilla made his move in an attempt to seize the overall lead.

Only Beloki was able to limit the damage.

Sevilla now has a 35-second overall lead over Beloki and is 54 seconds ahead of Mercado.

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Fifth stage placings:
1 Juan Miguel Mercado (Sp) iBanesto.com, 4hrs 18mins 37secs
2 Oscar Sevilla (Sp) Kelme, 33 second behind
3 Joseba Beloki (Sp) ONCE, 58secs
4 Jose Maria Jimenez (Sp) iBanesto.com, 1:17
5 Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp) US Postal, 1:21
6 David Plaza (Sp) Festina
7 Manuel Beltran (Sp) Mapei
8 Angel Casero (Sp) Festina
9 Roberto Heras (Sp) US Postal
10 Fernando Escartin (Sp) Team Coast, all same time.

Overall standings:
1 Oscar Sevilla (Sp) Kelme, 15hrs 22mins 9secs
2 Juan Manuel Mercado (Sp) iBanesto.com, 15 seconds behind
3 Joseba Beloki (Sp) ONCE, 35secs
4 David Plaza (Sp) Festina, 59
5 Roberto Heras (Sp) US Postal, 1:06
6 Angel Casero (Sp) Festina, 1:09
7 Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp) US Postal, 1:12
8 Roberto Laiseka (Sp) Euskadi-Euskaltel, same time
9 Iban Mayo (Sp) Euskadi-Euskaltel, 1:37
10 Fernando Escartin (Sp) Team Coast, same time