Stage 5: Saint-Die-Des-Vosges - Colmar
Date: July 10, 2019
Distance: 175.5km
Stage type: Hilly
This mountains-heavy Tour gets a little more serious with this beautifully balanced stage that, although unlikely to tempt the big hitters to centre stage, should produce plenty of action as it tickles the edge of the Vosges massif. This is the first day when breakaway specialists such as Thomas De Gendt may be tempted onto the attack, with the mountains jersey a potential prize even if their escape doesn't survive until the picturesque finish town of Colmar.
Eyeing their roadbooks on the eve of this stage, De Gendt and his fellow baroudeurs will appreciate its opening half, which follows lumpy roads eastwards towards the mountains. They should also be spurred on by its very final section, where two significant ascents that should ensure the sprinters won’t enter the picture and will therefore place the burden of chasing on the teams of puncheurs such as Julian Alaphilippe and Michael Matthews.
The rollercoaster run into Colmar begins with the second-category ascent to the spectacular, medieval Haut Koenigsbourg castle. The close combination of the second-cat Côte des Trois-Épis and the third-cat Côte des Cinq Châteaux will have more of a winnowing effect, leaving the hilly Classics specialists in the peloton's vanguard with the GC contenders tracking them closely, but holding resources back until the far tougher stage through the Vosges to the summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles tomorrow.
Coming off the last climb, the breakaway, if it's still clear, or the lead group will have 10 kilometres to cover into the finish. This flat section could allow other riders to bridge up to the front, including those fast finishers who can acquit themselves well on climbs of this length – the likes of Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet, for instance. In short, it's one of those rare Tour stages that almost any type of rider could win.
-
Giro d'Italia penalties, fines and yellow cards – All the punishments handed out at the 2026 race
Tracking the rule infringements and penalties accrued on the road from Bulgaria to Rome -
Netcompany Ineos say 'nothing has changed' in Egan Bernal's GC hunt at Giro d'Italia despite several setbacks in opening week
'Of course, we can't hide the gap, this is clear, but we have to keep our belief high' says DS Basso with Colombian 15th overall, 6:18 off the lead -
'Jai is a bit older, maybe also a bit wiser' – Red Bull try to maintain balance between former winner Hindley and unrestricted home star Pellizzari at Giro d'Italia
DS Pömer says stopping Italian from trying to follow Vingegaard on Blockhaus 'would have been a moment he would regret his entire life' -
'Tactically, he did it really well' - Jayco-AlUla cautiously optimistic for Ben O'Connor in Giro d'Italia after sound strategic performance on Blockhaus
Australian just 1:15 down on Jonas Vingegaard and seventh overall after first major summit finish
