Sergent solos to stage 5 win in Tour of Austria

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Kiwi Jesse Sergent soloed to the win on the high mountain stage 5 of the Tour of Austria, claiming his first victory of the season in St. Johann/Alpendorf.

Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh held onto the overall race lead.

Sergent was part of the day's breakaway, then made the front split on the Glocknerkönig, where the best Austrian of the race, Gregor Muhlberger (Tirol Cycling Team) led the way over the top. The group survived the freezing cold and snow on the descent.

Sergent then attacked on a small, unclassified climb in the final 20km and soloed to victory, 49 seconds ahead of breakaway companion Yoann Bagot (Cofidis), with Patrick Conrad (Gourmetfein Simplon Wels) leading home the yellow jersey group in third.

“The breakaway went pretty much straight away and on the main climb it split and there were four of us in front," Sergent said. "On the descent the weather was terrible - it was snow, freezing cold - and by the bottom we had five of us. Dirk [Demol, director] came up to me and told me I had to try something on the small climb with about 20 kilometers to go, which was still far out, but I made a little acceleration. The others hesitated, and the gap opened; it went from 10 to 20 to 30 seconds. It was a really painful 20k’s!

“At the bottom of the last climb it was one minute. I did not know I would win until I turned the last corner with 300 meters to go. I could not really believe it! I have just come off a break, and this is the first road stage I have ever won, and my first win in three years, so it’s very special. I have to say it was also the hardest!”

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