December 22, 2013 (Santa Cruz, Costa Rica) – Canada’s Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) 1% For The Planet was on the podium again at yesterday’s Stage 5 from Liberia to Santa Cruz, 168.4km, placing 3rd behind winner Alexander Serov (Rus) RusVelo with Henry Raabe (Crc) Coopenae-Movistar-Economy in second. Anton Varabei (Can) 1% For The Planet was 1oth while teammate Julien Gagné (1% For The Planet) is the top Canuck overall in 24th.

Ryan Roth (Can) 1% For The Planet provided a brief report from Stage 5:
Stage 5 was another hot one. On paper it was to be 148km of flat to rolling roads from Liberia to Santa Cruz. As so often happens, a break rolled away early in the stage and Jean-Michel was in there for us. The group of 5 worked together well as the team of the leader JPS-Giant and Cuba rode to limit the advantage. As we got closer to the (expected) finish, the gap dropped to 1 minute and 30 seconds. However, there was a mistake in the distance, and the stage ended up being closer to 170km. This extra distance did not hurt the breakaway as the chase stalled out and they fought out the stage win. Jean-Michel finshed 3rd to go along with his 1st and 2nd places in the Vuelta so far. The rest of the team finished safely in the main field and had a relatively easy day hopefully giving us fresh legs for tomorrow’s tough stage which features the first category 1 climb so far.

For more videos from Team 1% For The Planet on the squad’s YouTube channel, click here.

Results

1. Alexander Serov (Rus) RusVelo    3:44:03
2. Henry Raabe (Crc) Coopenae-Movistar-Economy
3. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) 1% For The Planet
4. Juan Juarez (Mex) Canel’s Turbo Team
5. Nieves Carrasco (Crc) Agricenter Coronado Hotel Los Lagos    0:06

10. Anton Varabei (Can) 1% For The Planet 0:46
13. Gavriel Epstein (Can) 1% For The Planet
35. Ryan Roth (Can) 1% For The Planet
40. Étienne Samson (Can) 1% For The Planet
67. Julien Gagné (Can) 1% For The Planet

GC after Stage 5
1. Juan Rojas (Crc) JPS-Giant    17:45:09
2. Elias Vega (Crc) JPS-Giant     1:36
3. Juan Mata (Crc) Agricenter Coronado Hotel Los Lagos    1:58
4. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Coopenae-Movistar-Economy    2:17
5. Rodolfo Villalobos (Crc) JPS-Giant    2:23

24. Julien Gagné (Can) 1% For The Planet    13:48
31. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) 1% For The Planet    14:45
43. Anton Varabei (Can) 1% For The Planet    18:03
46. Ryan Roth (Can) 1% For The Planet    20:18
62. Gavriel Epstein (Can) 1% For The Planet    29:09
71. Étienne Samson (Can) 1% For The Planet    1:21:08