Australian Jai Hindley (Bora Hansgrohe) won the fifth stage of the 110th Tour de France, the first of two Pyrenean stages, which took the riders from Pau to Laruns along 163 kilometres. The winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia achieved success with a 20-kilometer solo, at the end of a long escape conducted, at first, in a large group, which gradually thinned out along the way. In second place, 32” behind, went a positive Giulio Ciccone (Lidl Trek) who settled the chasing group in the sprint also made up of the Austrian Felix Gall (AG2R Citroen), the German champion Emanuel Buchmann (Bora Hansgrohe ) and a disruptive Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma). The Perth champion thus conquered the yellow jersey. Now, in the general standings, he can boast a margin of 47” over the outgoing champion with Ciccone third at 1’03”. Hindley’s teammate, Buchmann, is fourth at 1’11” ahead of former leader Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), fifth at 1’34”, with his captain Tadej Pogacar sixth at 1’40”.
The analysis of today’s stage focuses on the unexpected formation of a breakaway of 36 riders, including some potential aspirants to the podium, if not even the final success. This platoon, which had gathered in the excitement before and after the flying finish line of Lanne-en-Barétous at kilometer 49, faced the inaugural climb of the day, the Col de Soudet, the first Hors Categorie of this year, with two and a half minutes on the peloton. Gall took the lead at the top, ahead of the Colombian Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ciccone. The best ones, piloted by the UAE, passed after four minutes. This status quo remained essentially unchanged even after the second ascent of the day, the Col d’Ichere, where the Latvian Krists Neilands (Israel Premier Tech) took the lead with a handful of seconds on the other escapees.
At less than 30 from the finish, the dreaded Col de Marie Blanque, first category GPM, began. At 5,000 meters from the summit it was Gall who broke the delay by dragging Hindley after him. Buchmann and Ciccone limited the damage while the other attackers of the day went adrift. In the yellow jersey group Jumbo replaced UAE with the American Sepp Kuss who imposed a pace which only his captain, Vingegaard, and his eternal rival Pogacar could resist. At the front, two kilometers from the brow, Hindley was leaving, leaving Gall in the bain-marie. The Dane did the same thing behind him, freeing himself from the uncomfortable company of the Slovenian. The Australian took first place in the GPM, also forfeiting the eight seconds of bonus. Vingegaard, fifth at the GPM in one minute, first recovered Buchmann and Ciccone in the downhill and then also Gall. Despite not receiving a single change, in the last 18 kilometres, Jonas halved the gap from the tread. Komenda’s champion, who was delayed in the final climb, was floundering, even though he wasn’t totally adrift. Jai filled up, cap plus shirt, standing up as a more authoritative alternative to the fisher king. Pogacar denounced a still approximate form. The fate of his Tour will be decided tomorrow. Should he give way again, it will become nearly impossible for him to compete for ultimate success.
Tomorrow the second Pyrenean stage will take place. The 145 kilometer stage that will take the riders from Tarbes to Cauterets-Cabasque will be short but certainly intense. Similar to today’s, the initial phase will be soft with, after 25 kilometres, the pedalable Cote de Capvern-les-Bains, a third category climb. The music will radically change at kilometer 55 when you climb the dreaded Col d’Aspin, first category GPM. There will be no respite at this point for the riders who after the dive on Sainte Marie de Campan will face the iconic climb of the Pyrenees: the Tourmalet. After which, after a long descent and 20 kilometers of valley bottom, the final 16 kilometers of ascent will begin towards the finish line in Cauterets-Cambasque. After today’s appetizer, the damages will be inventoried tomorrow evening.
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