Germany's Lennard Kämna won the fifth stage of the Volta a Catalunya today ©Getty Images

Lennard Kämna of Bora-Hansgrohe won stage five of the Volta a Catalunya after breaking away from the lead group with a late solo attack.

The 24-year-old German was so exhausted at the finish following the 201.1 kilometres route from La Pobla de Segur to Manresa, near Barcelona, that he could barely acknowledge his victory.

Kämna crossed the line in 4hr 29min and 13sec on a day when Ineos Grenadiers rider Adam Yates maintained his general classification lead with the two weekend stages remaining.

Ruben Guerreiro, riding for EF Education-Nippo, finished 39 seconds behind Kämna, with Mikel Bizkarra, representing Euskaltel, third at 42 seconds.

The Ineos Grenadiers team allowed the 41 riders in the leading group to fight for the stage places as they maintained watch on their overall rivals in the main peleton.

Yates finished 2:00 behind Kämna.

The riders are set to tackle the crucial sixth stage, from Tarragona to Mataró, tomorrow, followed by the finishing day’s ride in Barcelona on Sunday (March 28).