Stage 5, and we’re going to the real mountains today. It’s the first real mountain test, and it will surely be a challenge for anyone. It’s doubtful Beyer
can hold on to the yellow jersey, but who will take it from him? Sanchez
is only 1 second behind, but he isn’t the greatest climber, he’s good, but not pure class. Pellizotti
sits pretty 4th, only 42 seconds behind, and he’s named as the main favourite for the stage win by the bookmakers. Other names to watch out for are Eastman Castano
who both had a bad stage 3, and they must be looking to gain back some of the lost time today.
We jump right to the action, and it’s another day with a big breakaway out in front. 14 riders successfully attack early on, they’re: Jeannesson De Weert & Kopp Seledkov & Orozco Becerra Hirschlein & Le Bon Delage Gautier Novak & Willems Parra Dieteren
They build their lead slowly, but surely, and 40 kilometers into the stage, their gap is 1’50. It's a day with absolutely awful weather, the rain is falling like it's never fallen before, and wind is also strong, meaning positioning will be important through the entire stage.
The first 6 mountain points on the day are strongly contested, and it’s Parra
who comes out on top. He’ll probably look to the polkadot today, as there are 32 more points later today. At least a good start to his campaign for the mountain jersey!
The first real climb of the day, which isn’t classified, is too much for Kop
and he has to let his breakaway companions go with 100 kilometers to go. Notice the weather, it’s absolutely awful, only a strong rider will win today. The 13 riders in front now hold an advantage of 4 minutes back to the peloton.
And the bad weather turns out dangerous. One of the outsiders for a good stage placing today, Rujigh
crashes on a little descent after 60 kilometers of racing. We can only hope he isn’t hurt.
His team mates paces him quickly back to the peloton, and with 92 kilometers left, they’re back. The gap to the breakaway has increased, it’s now 5’15, but the peloton still controls them well.
The peloton catches Kopp
with 87 kilometers left. It’s Cyclevox doing most of the work, for their overall leader Beyes
but also Venchi contributes for their defending champion, Pellizotti
With 79 kilometers left, Castano
has had enough of this slow pace! He commands all his team mate to the front, starting a determined chase for the breakaway riders. The gap is only 5’30, meaning they might catch them early today. Maybe too early?
Willems
is the only rider in the breakaway showing interest for the first intermediate sprint, but he fails to time his sprint, and Hirschlein
rolls over first. They start to feel the pressure from the Pirelli
controlled peloton, as they’ve lost 35 seconds on the last 8 kilometers. With 71 kilometers left, the gap is in other words down to 5 minutes.
This isn’t really Ortega’s
Volta a Portugal. He crashed on the first stage, and clearly got injured, and with 56 kilometers left of today’s stage, he tastes asphalt once again.
Willems
doesn’t do the same mistake twice, and he takes the 2 nd intermediate sprint with ease. But it looks like today won’t be a chance for the riders in the breakaway to shine, the peloton is only 3 minutes behind 50 kilometers away from the line.
Parra
attacks for the 16 mountain points on offer on the summit with 32 kilometers left. Jeannesson
follows, and this might be a move for more than mountain points, as the peloton is only 2’40 behind, and they look eager to get rid of riders only being dead weight in the breakaway.
Tizza
leads the peloton over the top, as Sicard
attacks on their left!
Sicard
isn’t allowed to ride away, and the peloton catches him with 24 kilometers to go. They’ve the breakaway in reach aswell, only being 2’20 behind. Cerne
has started to help Pirelli
with the pace, meaning it’s not only Castano who feels good today.
Sicard
doesn’t give up that easy though, and he attacks again, only a kilometer after he's caught. But just like last time, he isn’t companied.
This time Sicard
is more serious, and he catches the breakaway with 12 kilometers left. He should have fresh legs, meaning he has a great opportunity now, as the peloton is 1’10 behind.
Sicard
is clearly going after the yellow jersey here! He’s only outsprinted by Willems
for the 6 bonus seconds given with 11 kilometers left.
No doubts Sicard
has lifted the pace in the breakaway, and with 9 kilometers left, the breakaway got a lead of 1’20. Paulinho Larsson
try to surprise the biggest favourites for the stage win with an early attack.
Larsson
is the stronger of those 2, and holds a small, small gap with 7 kilometers left. Eastman
also attacked, and he can be seen between Larsson and the peloton.
Up at the very front, Orozco
doesn’t enjoy the company of Sicard
and attacks with 6 kilometers left!
Pellizotti
attacks! He and his team has been hiding all day long, but it looks like it has only been part of a well-calculated plan. His acceleration is superb, and he quickly gaps the peloton.
Pellizotti Eastman Larsson
join forces with 4 kilometers left, companied by Jeannesson
on their right. They can see the trio in front now, only a few meters ahead of them, it’s Sicard Parra Orozco
3400 meters left, and Krasnoperov Castano Paulinho
are about to join the first group on the road, meaning we’ll have 11 riders up front. They’re, from top to bottom: Pellizotti Parra Eastman Sicard Larsson Jeannesson Orozco Seledkov Krasnoperov Castano Paulinho
Pellizotti
is a class above the rest it seems, and he simply rides away with 2 kilometers to go. Jeannesson Eastman Larsson Paulinho Sicard
follow closest, while the others mentioned with 3.4 kilometers either lost contact, or still struggle to make contact.
Eastman
The American wonderboy also proves himself today, and he, just like Pellizotti
rides away the chasing group, which is about to get caught by Castano’s
group.
And finally, Krasnoperov Castano’s
group is able to make contact with the other group. They immediately hits the front as they only got 900 meters left, and it’s Krasnoperov Castano Larsson
sitting in the first row.
Pellizotti
can celebrate! An absolutely outstanding victory, which also will give him the yellow jersey, as Sanchez
has been nowhere to be seen on the climb.
Eastman
goes 2nd on the stage, a great comeback from him, after a miserable stage 3. But he had no chance against Pellizotti
and crosses the line about 45 seconds behind.
Krasnoperov
wins the sprint for 3rd, ahead of Castano Larsson Paulinho Parra Sicard Jeannesson Orozco
A remarkable sprint by Sanchez
sees him join the back of the group with Krasnoperov
on the very last meters, getting 11th on the stage, meaning he’s still in contention for the overall win, but Pellizotti
really hammered it today.
