Alexey Lutsenko enjoyed the biggest win of his career ©Getty Images

Astana's Alexey Lutsenko prevailed in an uphill finish to claim the biggest win of his career on stage five of the Vuelta a España in Alcossebre today.

The Kazakh rider broke clear on a short but steep uphill finish at the end of the 175.7 kilometres stage from Benicàssim. 

He eventually finished 42 seconds clear in 4 hours 24min 58sec.

Dimension Data's Merhawi Kudus of Eritrea finished second.

Third place went to home rider Marc Soler of Movistar, a further 14 seconds in arrears.

All the leading riders came in a breakaway which gradually formed midway through the stage and at one point held a seven minute lead.

Chris Froome still holds the leader's red jersey ©Getty Images
Chris Froome still holds the leader's red jersey ©Getty Images

Britain's Team Sky favourite Chris Froome still holds the leader's red jersey after finishing alongside a depleted group of overall contenders.

He now leads by 10 seconds from United States' BMC Racing Team rival Tejay van Garderen after he finished in another group nine seconds behind.

Colombia's Orica-Scott rider Esteban Chaves sits third overall, 11 seconds behind Froome.

If Froome secures his first Vuelta title, he will become the third man to win both this and the Tour de France in the same year.

Riders will tomorrow tackle a 204.4km "hilly" stage from Villarreal to Sagunto.