A bit of a change up today as we head up towards Super-Besse Sancy. It's the most challenging stage of the first week so far with a relatively stable incline all the way up to the base of Col de la Croix Saint-Robe which is a Cat 2 only 24km from the finish which itself is a small climb. Will be interesting to see if this favours the Puncheurs or the Climbers more. The bookies have put their bets on the Climbers.
It takes a very long time but with 130km to go in the stage we have a breakaway of 4 riders with a 2'28 gap back to the Peloton. Crncevic Osorio Rohendi Tolhoek
Tolhoek wins the KOM sprint as the first Cat 4.
No contest in the breakaway at the intermediate sprint. It's a different story in the Peloton as Demare takes the single point that's available.
Quite a few teams that have riders on the front of the Peloton today. 80km to go and the gap is 2'50.
Osorio wins the 2nd KOM of the day and goes into the KOM lead by a single point. The real question will be whether or not this quartet will be in front to contest the Cat 2 in 43kms time.
At the base of the Saint-Robe climb and the trio at the front has seen their lead evaporate down to 40 seconds which has seen Tolhoek attack to up the pace.
A very high pace from Sendeku has swept up the breakaway and we're all together with 3km to the top of the climb but still 27km until the finish line. A real mix of Puncheurs and Climbers at the front of the Peloton.
No fight at the KOM as the focus is clearly on the stage win. That means Sendeku rolls through to collect maximum points with Smith in 2nd. Potential KOM lead tomorrow for Sendeku.
Gaps starting to open up in the Peloton as only 74 riders are in the front group. It is yet to be seen if these gaps will stick.
6km to the line and no action as of yet but we're just starting the final climb so there will no doubt be some aggression shown shortly! Worth noting that Tesfom in Yellow is less than a minute behind the front group at the moment so he may just hold on for another day.
2.5km to go and no attacks! Everyone deciding it's best to conserve their energy for this last burst to the line.
1km to go and the sprint hasn't started. Demare is up here and just out of picture is Houle. Will this be too tough for them and rather favour the likes of Lecuisinier?
Demare decides it's time go for it with 800m to the line. Will he be able to make it his first stage win of this year's Tour?
300m for Demare and it looks as if he should have this one in the bag.
It's a bit close for comfort in the end but Demare makes it his first stage win here!
Very close between the next 3 as Hirt outsprints Lecuisinier and Barguil. Sicard is 5th and makes it 4 French riders in the Top 5.
Bennett is 6th ahead of Yates. Madouas strong for 8th. Bettiol and Smith round out the Top 10.
66 riders end up with the same time as our stage winner. Tesfom is in the 4th group on the road and will lose his GC lead.
Houle then moves back into Yellow but only by 2 seconds ahead of Demare.
Demare leads the Points classification by 3 points ahead of Houle. Demare also now leads the KOM Eenkhoorn leads the U25s. Project: Africa hold onto their Teams Classification lead.
le Tour de France - Stage 5 Report 
