RBC GranFondo Whistler - Sept 7, 2024
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Greg Van Avermaet wins from breakaway to take Peter Sagans yellow jersey on Stage 5

Greg Van Avermaet wins from breakaway to take Peter Sagan's yellow jersey on Stage 5 of the Tour de France

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) solo'ed to victory on stage 5 of the Tour de France and move into the yellow jersey after a tough day in the Massif Central Mountains.

After the day’s early break away of 9 riders, 3 up front and 6 chasing, Van Avermaet dropped his final companion Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) on the penultimate climb, the Col du Perthus, with 17.5 kilometres to go. Van Avermaet held his advantage over the final Col de Font de Cère to win the stage by 2:34 from De Gendt.

The early escapees established a lead of 15 minutes. The peloton fired into life in the final 50 kilometres, where Nairo Quintana’s Movistar team took up the pacemaking.

Sagan was quickly out the back door unable to match the pace and hold onto the Yellow jersey, after being tipped by many to hold onto it today.

On the Pas de Peyrol, Movistar shedded the peloton down to just 25 riders, with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), yellow jersey Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) among the riders to be jettisoned on the category two ascent.

The combination of the hills and high temperatures of the Massif Central made for an abrupt change from the Tour’s opening stages in the north, and the transition was a brutal one for some riders.

Team Sky guard took over on the final two climbs, and set a steadier pace, but the  calm was broken by an acceleration from Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) near the top of the Font de Cère.

The Frenchman was joined by Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), and though they were quickly brought back, their efforts had the effect of stretching out the group of favourites, sending a suffering bruised Contador (Tinkoff) out the back door, conceding further ground.

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) must have surrendered all hopes of overall victory.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Kathusha) led the group in five minutes down on Van Avermaet, while a struggling Contador conceded another precious clutch of seconds.

Stage 5 Top 10

# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 5:31:36 
2 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:02:34 
3 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team 0:05:04 
4 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha   
5 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:05:07 
6 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Bora-Argon 18   
7 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step   
8 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange   
9 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky   
10 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team   

General classification after stage 5

1 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 25:34:46 
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:05:11 
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:05:13 
4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:14 
5 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:05:17 
6 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin   
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team   
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team   
9 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac   
10 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step

Greg Van Avermaet wins from breakaway to take Peter Sagans yellow jersey on Stage 5 of theTour de France