Lars Boom Solo's to Stage Win and Race Lead

LottoNL-Jumbo rider denies Peter Sagan a stage win, with a solo attack from lead group in the final kilometres. Sagan extends his lead in the Blue points jersey, as Stefan Kung punctures and looses race lead

It was a tough day in the saddle for the Pro Peloton, over 19 climbs on roads notably used in the Amstel Gold Race.

After an hour's racing a breakaway was formed including; Vakoc, Biermans, Hepburn, Bagdonas, Allegaert, Reinders en Van Melsen who lead with a gap of 1m 40 secs which went up to around 4 minutes before the peloton started to reel them back in.

With 57 kms to go, the breakaway's lead wss down to 2m 40 secs. Oliver Naesen and Robert Wagner hit the ground, Wagner abandoned 

Küng punctures and wound up in a chasing group, along with Lars Boom who bridged up to 23 riders in front.

Hepburn and Vakoc attacked and Gougeard, Wellens and Valgren joined them.

More riders bridged across including Dumoulin, Boom, Sagan, Naesen, Van Poppel  Stuyven, Sütterlin. Vanmarcke and Bakelants. Gilbert and Van Avermaet manage to bridge across with 6 kms to go, but no sign of Küng, 

Sagan attacked first not liking the size and quality of the leading group but was reeled back, as were Bakelants and Stuyven who attacked next..

Sep Vanmarcke attacked but was chased down by Sagan and then Lars Boom counter-attacked with 2 kms to go.

Sagan seemed disinterested in chasing down the attack from Boom, so the Dutchman grabbed the opportunity to solo to his first victory since his Tour de France stage win, way back in 2014.

The 6th stage of the BinckBank Tour travels from Riemst to Houffalize in the Ardennes. The first loops has nine climb and the  hilly closing circuit amounts to almost 30 kilometres, featuring six more climbs and the first three are by far the toughest.

2017 Binckbank Tour Stage 5 Top Ten Results

1 Lars Boom (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 3:43:46 
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:03 
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing   
4 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale   
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo   
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors   
7 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Cannondale-Drapac   
8 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal   
9 Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky   
10 Jasha Sutterlin (Ger) Movistar Team    

2017 Binckbank Tour GC after Stage 5

1 Lars Boom (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 15:23:17 
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:02 
3 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Sunweb 0:00:08 
4 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:19 
5 Jasha Sutterlin (Ger) Movistar Team 0:00:27 
6 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing   
7 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:29 
8 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:32 
9 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-Scott 0:00:35 
10 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:36

VIDEO: 2017 Binckbank Tour Stage 5 Final Kilometres