Critérium du Dauphiné stage 5 – Live coverage
All the action from the rolling stage to Saint Vallier
Bonjour and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 5 of the Criterium du Dauphine.
As the Cyclingnews blimp takes height, the stage has just rolled out of a sunny and warm Saint-Chamond near St Etienne.
The 175km stage includes five minor climbs but is expected to be a day for a brave breakaway and the sprinters.
The Côte du Planil comes after just 10km and so has inspired a number of attacks.
These included Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) but the Tour of Flanders winner was pulled back.
Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) was next to big make a big attack, with the high speed, hurting and dropping several of the pure sprinters.
Asgreen, Grmay and Bernard join Wellens in the attack.
Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) is a real threat to race leader Lukas Postleberger. He is only 9 seconds down overall.
As a result Bora are chasing the attack.
Chris Froome spoke before the start of the stage and has acknowledged that his ambition of winning a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title will not be fulfilled this year, admitting that he's far from the form needed to compete for the yellow jersey.
Click below to read the full story.
Chris Froome: I'm not going to win the Tour de France this year
Cyril Gautier got across to the break but Bora is keeping them at 35 seconds.
A second uncategorised climb seems to have cracked the chasing peloton and the break has extended its lead.
These are the five riders on the attack.
Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange), Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and Cyril Gautier (B&B Hotels).
The gap is 1:40 but the peloton have not yet given up the chase.
140km to go
After a fast 35km, the speed is still high, with Bora trying to defend Postlberger's lead and so chase down Asgreen's attack.
It is a while since Deceuninck won a race and so the Dane seems keen to go for it today.
#Dauphine 🇫🇷 We’re 35km into today’s fifth stage & our very own @TsgabuG has made it into the breakaway alongside four other riders.The group has a gap of 1”50 over the peloton at the moment. pic.twitter.com/ofAFmIzKHSJune 3, 2021
.@k_asgreen has booked a place in today's #Dauphine break, which has built a two-minute lead over the peloton after 30 kilometers.Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/bGNyPpBJCUJune 3, 2021
Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) managed to keep one second of his overall lead after the Critérium du Dauphiné's stage 4 time trial, holding the yellow jersey for another day.
Click below to read his full reaction.
Pöstlberger achieves 'mission impossible' to keep Critérium du Dauphiné GC lead
On this fast downhill sector, the break is still 1:35 clear.
⏱ Les coureurs ont parcouru 41,3 kilomètres dans la 1ère heure de course.⏱ The riders covered 41.3 kilometres during the 1st hour. #Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/o1U6vA0ENxJune 3, 2021
As the race heads to the intermediate sprint in Saint-Appolinard, the break is still up the road with a lead of 1:35.
Asgreen is still virtual race leader. Perhaps Bora are letting then five hang out front in the hope the sprinters' teams will also help with the chase.
Asgreen leads the break through the intermediate sprint, careful to take the three bonus seconds.
.@k_asgreen wins the intermediate sprint in Saint-Appolinard, and is now six seconds behind the overall leader of the #Dauphine.Photo: A.S.O. / Fabien Boukla pic.twitter.com/0z1NEvRnRZJune 3, 2021
Crash! Asgreen goes down.
Fortunately he is able to get up and race on. He rejoins the attack but their lead is down to 1:20 now.
For what should have been a quiet day for the sprint teams, the stage has been hot from the start.
After today's stage the Dauphine finally heads into the mountains, with three stages deep into the Alps.
That is when the final GC battle will unfold and where any time difference in the time trial will really matter.
Yesterday Ineos Grenadiers leader Geraint Thomas admitted that he got his pacing wrong during the time trial to Roche-la-Molière.
The hilly 16.4-kilometre test threw up a surprise victory for Astana-Premier Tech's Alexey Lutsenko, with the Kazakhstani rider beating teammate Ion Izagirre by eight seconds to claim victory.
Thomas finished 10th, 23 seconds back, while teammate Richie Porte was sixth at 15 seconds. He is 8th in GC, 23 down on Lutsenko.
After the TT Thomas admitted his mistake.
Click below for the full story.
Geraint Thomas admits to pacing error in Critérium du Dauphiné time trial
Back to today's race and we have more attacks.
Ryan Mullen and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) have jumped away from the peloton with Josef Cerny (Deceuninck) joining them.
They are only 20 seconds down on the attack but the peloton is only 14 seconds behind them.
In another twist, it's not gruppo compatto but the counter-attackers have joined the attack, to form an eight-rider attack.
But again the peloton is chasing.
A UAE rider is trying to go across to the attack but it's a big ask.
Bora do seem to be playing a controlling game with the break. The gap is at 1:40
These are the eight on the attack.
Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange), Julien Bernard, Ryan Mullen and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), Kasper Asgreen, Josef Cerny (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Cyril Gautier (B&B-KTM).
Crash in the peloton.
Riders who went down include best young rider Ilan Van Wilder (DSM).
We're hearing that Lennard Hofstede (JUmbo-Visma) has been forced to abandon after the crash.
The crash happened on the approach to the Côte de la Sizeranne climb after 88km of fast racing.
The crash slowed the peloton and so now the break leads by 2:00.
The break reaches the côte de la Sizeranne after 96km.
Bernard leads over the top.
Ilan Van Wilder (DSM) is back in the peloton after the crash. He was one of several riders who went down at speed.
Ouch! Hofstede has a suspected broken collarbone.
🇫🇷 #Dauphine Unfortunately Lennard Hofstede was involved in a crash and had to abandon the Dauphiné.He has been brought to the hospital for further examinations with a suspected collarbone fracture.Get well soon Lennard 🙏💪June 3, 2021
Our photographers captured the moment of the crash.
And sadly also of Hostede's injuries. He had a cut to his face as well as a suspected fractured collarbone.
65km to go
The race goes on and the eight rider break remains out front.
Their lead is at 1:15 now.
This is the break, working well together to try to stay away.
These are the eight riders up front:
Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange), Julien Bernard, Ryan Mullen and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), Kasper Asgreen, Josef Cerny (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Cyril Gautier (B&B-KTM).
However even the break is breaking up.
Ryan Mullen and Josef Cerny (Deceuninck-Quick Step) have attacked but the others are chasing them.
The speed is high in the peloton and so slight cross winds are starting to make some riders suffer.
Cerny and Mullen push on, with the rest of the break at 25 seconds.
Asgreen is in the group but the peloton are chasing after him and the gap is at 50 seconds.
The peloton is packed together and closing on the Asgreen group.
That will Ryan Mullen (Trek-Segafredo) and Josef Cerny (Deceuninck-Quick Step) up front.
This was the moment of the attack.
🏁 60 km 2️⃣🚴🏻♂️ < 6️⃣🚴🏻♂️ < 1'13" < 🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🇨🇿@cernyjosef et 🇮🇪@ryanmullen9 attaquent dans l'échappée. 🇨🇿@cernyjosef and 🇮🇪@ryanmullen9 attack in the breakaway.#Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/rqg5Jd2XgZJune 3, 2021
50km to go
There are more attacks from the peloton as the road rises gradually.
The rising road splits the attack, with Cerny pushing on.
Others riders are going to join him soon.
Other riders grab musettes but there's little time to feed, the race is on.
Ineos are on the front as the race turns right.
There's a real risk of echelons and split here.
They sweep up Cerny in a second.
The peloton is split into several groups.
40km to go
The Ineos attack didn't split the race but the tension and the speed is high now.
Classics riders have also got a sniff of the attacks.
Greg van Avermaet is up front and watching for attacks.
There are 2 key climbs in the final 30km.
The Col de Barbe Bleue with 27km to go and then the Côte du Montrebut with 13km to go.
They are only 2.1km and 1.4km long but will surely inspire attacks.
The flat roads weave through the French countryside with exposed fields and then protective villages.
Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE) has made a lone attack.
But the peloton let him go.
The Col de Barbe Bleue is coming up. But the peloton has eased, letting Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE) open a 1:15 lead.
He's rightly going for it.
Crash!
Several riders go down. Ouch.
An AG2R is injured, while a BikeExchange rider is in pain.
The others are up and away.
Kaden Broves is the BikeExchange rider. Hopefully he can continue.
Onto the climb and Bahrain are leading the peloton for Colbrelli.
He will be looking to survive the climbs and then win the sprint.
Bahrain lead on the climb and on the exposed parts over the top.
Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE) is still out front.
The AG2R rider caught in the crash was Clement Venturini.
He has been forced to abandon.
Bahrain have 3 riders leading Colbrelli.
25km to go
Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE) leads over the climb by 1:00.
Now there is a technical descent on a new road surface.
Sadly Groves has also abandoned after the crash.
#Dauphine 🇫🇷The original breakaway has been reeled in and we now have a solo leader ahead by 52 seconds with 23km to go ⏱Unfortunately after his crash, @kaden_groves has abandon the race. pic.twitter.com/5KEWDyKmlZJune 3, 2021
Ivo Oliveira is also out of the race.
🇫🇷 #Dauphiné Unfortunately @IvOliveira96 was involved in a crash and he's out of the race. https://t.co/EzCSzuXTXnJune 3, 2021
The Côte du Montrebut comes 13km from the finish. It is short but very steep: 1.5km at 11.4 %, with a technical descent to follow.
We expect Ineos to lead the peloton onto the climb in the hope it can hurt their rivals while they protect Geraint Thomas.
Bahrain leaf but here come Jumbo on the left and Cofidis on the right.
The race to the foot of the climb is on.
Sven Erik Bystrøm's lead is down to 40 seconds.
Bora are upfront to protect Postlberger and drop him up front for the climb.
Here come the EF riders and Movistar riders for Valverde.
Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE) starts the climb but is suffering. The peloton can see him now.
Gruppetto compatto.
Here come Ineos. Amador drags their line to the front for the turn left.
Postlberger is there and Groupama riders for Gaudu.
Uff... The climb is steep, very steep. And narrow.
The middle sector is at 17%.
Lawson Craddock (EF) goes solo off the front.
Astana are protecting Lutsenko because he could take the lead today.
Meanwhile, Chris Froome is distanced behind.
Earlier today he admitted he does not have the form to fight for the Tour de France.
Colbrelli is still up front. He is climbing well.
Craddock pushes on. This is a good attack as the gradient eases.
Craddock leads over the top of the climb. He has a 10 second lead.
11km to go.
Craddock leads onto the descent.
Crash!
Winner Anacona goes down with a B&B Hotels rider.
Bahrain have picked up the chase of Craddock for Colbrelli.
All the GC riders and Postlberger are there.
8km to go
The peloton is closing down Craddock.
The descent to the river and the finish continues.
Bahrain are letting Craddock hang off the front.
The steady chase is allowing other riders to move up for the finish.
Go team! @dauphine #RideAsOne #Dauphiné📸 @bettiniphoto pic.twitter.com/ut7UhJWu7EJune 3, 2021
3km to go
Craddock refuses to give up. He's giving his all.
Jack Haig is the only rider left for Bahrain on the front of the peloton.
He closes down Craddock.
2km to go
Into the tunnel!
Out of the tunnel
There are 50 or so riders in the group.
Watch out for the road furniture!
Last Km!
Ineos ride to protect Thomas. And he goes solo!
Thomas has gone!
400m to go!
Thomas is solo!
EF chase him.
Ohhhhh!
Didi Colbrelli catch Thomas on the line? It's very close.
Colbrelli went early in pursuit of Thomas.
Thomas started celebrate as Colbrelli came up along him.
He held onto win by half a bike length. Wow!
Thomas hit his head with his hand, perhaps thinking he had blown it. But the Welshman got the stage and a precious 10-second time bonus.
Thomas and Cobrelli looked at each after the line, both surprised by that thrilling finish.
Thomas was shocked but Colbrelli knew he had missed out by inches.
This is the top ten on the stage:
1 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 04:02:15
2 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
3 Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech
4 Carlos Barbero (Spa) Team Qhubeka Assos
5 Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Israel Start-up Nation
6 Michael Valgren (Den) EF Education-Nippo
7 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
9 Harry Sweeny (Aus) Lotto Soudal
10 Franck Bonnamour (Fra) B&B Hotels p/b KTM
The TV replays showed that Michal Kwiatkowski slowed to let a gap go on the tight turn with 1km to go.
Thomas got a gap and went all in.
This is the new general classification after stage 5:
1 Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 16:59:22
2 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech 00:00:01
3 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:06
4 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech 00:00:09
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:13
6 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:14
7 Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Team DSM 00:00:14
8 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:16
9 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:32
10 Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team 00:00:34
The time bonus lifted Thomas up to sixth.
Thomas explained that Ineos realised that Bahrain only had Haig to lead any chase and so they went for it.
Thomas is the 2018 Tour de France winner but is also a superb rider and former track pursuiter with a fine turn of speed.
As he hoped, Postlberger kept the yellow and blue jersey for another day.
How close was the finish? This close!
🏁 🏴 @GeraintThomas86 s'impose à Saint-Vallier ! 🏆🏁 🏴 @GeraintThomas86 claims the win! 🏆#Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/obXmIPMOmyJune 3, 2021
Geraint Thomas explained his attack.
"It wasn't planned but I knew that Bahrain didn't have any guys left, only Jack Haig had been riding," he explained.
"I knew it was all lined out and the last bit was a little twisty and just said: 'Sod it, just go for it' and went with a k to go. The boys said on the radio I got a gap and I went all in."
Thomas thought he had lost the stage on the line.
"To be honest I didn't think I had it on the line. I just sat up about 2m before the line to give it the big boom and then, man, Colbrelli past so fast he nearly took my arm off," he said.
"It was really nice to get that win for sure."
Here's Thomas celebrating but unsure of his win.
This shot, with the riders a few metres after the line, show how close it was.
This was the look between Colbrelli and Thomas.
To read our full stage report, see the full results and our growing photo gallery, click below.
Critérium du Dauphiné: Geraint Thomas pounces to win stage 5
It was a fast day out on the 175km rolling stage.
It seems this is where Thomas found the energy for his late attack.
Yesterday he ate half of my birthday cake and look at him now! 😅🥇👏🏻 G! @INEOSGrenadiers @dauphine pic.twitter.com/FrKQN3NU4XJune 3, 2021
ICYMI, Chris Froome has conceded he will not be able to fight for a possible fifth victory at the Tour de France.
The Israel Start-Up Nation team leader has bravely fought back from his terrible crash two years ago at the Dauphine. He set himself a goal of a fifth Tour win, perhaps to inspire his return, but has struggled to be competitive in races this season..
Click below to read the full Froome story.
Chris Froome: I'm not going to win the Tour de France this year
Watch how Thomas and Ineos pulled off victory with a late attack.
"The boys said on the radio that I’d got a gap and I went all in."Watch how @GeraintThomas86 sprinted to victory on stage5⃣with a tremendous late attack 💥📽️ @dauphine pic.twitter.com/KGRqoPsA1hJune 3, 2021
This shot is from just before the finish line and shows Colbrelli's late charge.
This graphic offers a nice summary of the different classifications at the Dauphine.
🏆 Classements après l'étape 5️⃣! 🏆 Rankings after stage 5️⃣!#Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/6ojqw3HcR0June 3, 2021
The Criterium du Dauphine finally heads into the mountains on Friday with stage 6 from Loriol-sur-Drôme to Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse.
The stage is only 167km long but has an intense final 60km.
This is the map of the stage.
Lukas Postlberger will start the stage in the yellow and blue leader's jersey but he will surely come under attack from the rider chasing overall victory.
Thanks for joining us for full liver coverage of stage 5.
We'll be back tomorrow for full live coverage of stage 6 on Friday.
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