SEVILLE, Spain: Czech cyclist Pavel Bittner sprinted to the biggest victory of his career as he won the fifth stage of the Spanish Vuelta in a photo finish on Wednesday, with Primoz Roglic staying in the overall lead.

Bittner edged Wout van Aert on the line, with Kaden Groves third in a bunch sprint at the end of the relatively flat 177-km route from Fuente del Maestre to Seville.

It was the first victory in a grand tour for the 21-year-old Bittner, who rides for DSM-Firmenich PostNL. He recorded his first professional wins only earlier this month with two stages at the Vuelta a Burgos.

Three-time Spanish Vuelta champion Roglic, who won Tuesday’s fourth stage, remained eight seconds ahead of Joao Almeida, with Enric Mas trailing Roglic by 32 seconds.

On another day of soaring temperatures, Txomin Juaristi and Ibon Ruiz got away with relative ease, building a lead of more than three minutes before they were gradually reeled back in.

The duo were caught with 38 km remaining and the intensity ramped up as the peloton headed to the finish.

Groves’ Alpecin-Deceuninck team started the sprint first, but Van Aert’s decision to begin his effort from a distance caught him off guard. Bittner beat the Belgian thanks to a well-timed bike throw.

Thursday’s sixth stage sees the race return to the mountains with four categorised climbs on the 185.5-km route from Jerez de la Frontera to Yunquera.

The 21-stage race finishes in Madrid on September 8. (AP)