Not the most difficult mountain day by any means but we do end with a mountain top finish.

Although we have the Puerto de Orduna in the first half of the stage it is mostly flat/bumpy all the way to the 13 kilometre averaging 5% final climb.

Parra of Banco do Brasil was lively as the 12 man break of the day went about establishing itself. He would be joined by: Hayman, Palumbo, Grabsch, Prazdnovsky, Serri, Johnson, Muraglia, Reihs, Zwiwanski, Henderson and Menzies.

Prazdonvsky of Husky Energy is the first rider over the top of the Orduna climb with 100 kilometres to go. His reward is 16 KOM points. It is now a flat run all the way to the final climb.

With 80 kilometres to go the break don't contest the sprint points at Miranda de Ebro as back in the peloton the temperamental Aussie, Graeme Brown, crashes.

Sorenson, Jongewaard and Miholjevic would crash in the rainy conditions. With 65 kilometres to go and the break @ 5:30 Liberia, Kas and Aer Lingus take up the chase whilst Standard Chartered don't ride on the front.

We hit the final climb. Almost immediately with 12 kilometres to go the break are caught without resisting on the narrow roads. Baliani leads us as the peloton gradually reduces in number.

With 7 kilometres to go we have our first big move of the stage. It is by Sami Sanchez. The Spaniard takes advantage of everyone looking at each other and moves clear on the power climb. Basso attacks after him....

but the Italian's move goes nowhere before Evans and points jersey wearer, Voeckler, attack!

With 4 kilometres to go we have an interesting game of cat and mouse. Sanchez vs Evans/ Voeckler...... OR SHOULD I SAY Sanchez vs Evans (as Vockler is parked on Evans' wheel!)

Only seconds separate Sanchez from the Evans group and the favourites behind them, yet the other favourites seem to be getting distanced by the second.

2. 5 kilometres later we still have the same scenario with Voeckler parked on the wheel of Evans. Zubeldia attacks from behind with an explosive attack and joins up with the duo as we reach the last kilometre.

Sanchez holds on for the win! A solid ride from the Aer Lingus rider, he even managed to pull out more time to the trio behind in the final. Voeckler did come round the Aussie for second place in a reversal of yesterday's top two. Many of the outside favourites lost '54 seconds on the day and are slowly seeing potential podium places slip away.

Sanchez and Voeckler are fast becoming the only two big names on everyone's lips when people talk about the GC winner of this Vuelta. Ballan again rides solidly and holds onto the red leader's jersey finishing in the top 10.

Stage 5 looks to be one for the sprinters. But it all depends on the quality of the break and how hard the peloton race up the four ascents of the Puerto de Sorzano (3.4 kilometres @ 5%) climb.

STAGE 5: Lograno - Lograno 173 KM

Ben Day so far the only bright spot of this Vuelta for team Mercier is the first to attack.

Then shockingly countered by Soeiro of Stella, Robbie Hunter attacks! Few would have fought the second favourite would try and get into the break of the day, Faema bring the riders back.

This is just the first of a selection of strange events on the stage.

Bewilderingly for the next 80 kilometres Bertagnoli of EMI rides on the front of the peloton with no interruptions whatsoever other than Bodrogi , who was protecting Voeckler, sticking his head out front.

Faema take up the pace again and with 74 kilometres to go we finally have a break. Leukemans goes on a solo push and quickly pulls out a lot of time.

The sprinter's teams begin to pull back Leukemans with the gap @ 4'50 with 50 kilometres to go.

But this is one strong Belgian. The peloton can only take about '3-'6 seconds out of Leukemans per kilometre.

Before you know it the chase is over. EMI are back on the front with 30 kilometres to go and the gap to Leukemans grows out to 6:30. Surely the stage win is in the bag.

Faema, Garin and France Sport really up the pace with 20 kilometres to go and drop many riders but it is surely too late.....

Hushovd wins the bunch sprint! But Leukemans has well since finished and claimed a win for Alcyon.

The fact riders such as Gadret and Hunter were dropped and that Lastras finished third shows how difficult the racing was in the last few kilometres.

A great day for Alcyon they receive 60 UC points. A few more days like that and they will be real contenders for the Ultra Classification.