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Hushovd sprints to Spanish stage
 Stage winner Hushovd was crowned top sprinter at the Tour de France CUENCA, Spain (Reuters) -- Norwegian Thor Hushovd underlined his credentials for next month's world road championships by winning stage five of the Tour of Spain on Wednesday from Alcazar de San Juan to Cuenca. The Credit Agricole rider outsprinted Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero in a lead group of about 40 riders who broke away on the final climb. After a fast descent into Cuenca, Hushovd, who won the sprint points competition at the Tour de France, was the first to the line. Australian Bradley McGee was overall leader for a fourth consecutive day. Hushovd went one better than Tuesday when he secured second place behind top Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi. "I had to dig really deep, but after finishing second yesterday I was ultra-motivated for the win." Hushovd said. "I had a week's break after the Tour, and now I'm coming back into top form again." Like Petacchi, who has already notched up two stage wins in this year's Tour of Spain, Hushovd has his eye on the world road championships in Madrid on September 25th. But unlike the Italian, who will have eight team mates to support him in his quest for the rainbow jersey, Hushovd will have to fight it out alone. "The UCI regulations say that nations with fewer top cyclists get fewer riders, and I'll be the only Norwegian taking part in Madrid." Hushovd said. "After today, though, I'm more optimistic -- I won here with no team support either." McGee leads overall by 32 seconds but Thursday's summit finish at Aramon Valdelinares could be a major challenge for the Francaise des Jeux rider. "There won't be much of a battle between most of the main favorites, it's too soon in the race," said three-times overall winner and leading contender Roberto Heras. "However, on a climb nine kilometers long, some big names could well crack." One mountain specialist McGee will no longer have to worry about on Thursday is Spaniard Iban Mayo. The winner of the Tour's infamous Alpe D'Huez summit in 2003 pulled out on Wednesday suffering from back injuries. In a bad day for the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, 2002 Tour of Spain winner Aitor Gonzalez crashed at the foot of the final climb. He injured his shoulder and lost ground. The Tour of Spain finishes on September 18th in Madrid. 
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