Tour de France: Sagan wins stage 5 in Quimper

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) tightened his grip on the green jersey by claiming stage 5 of the Tour de France with a resounding sprint on the uphill finale in Quimper. The world champion timed his effort well on the drag to the line to beat Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) and Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) to the stage honours, while Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) placed seventh to retain the yellow jersey.

At the end of a demanding afternoon in the rugged hills of Finistère, only the strongest remained in contention come the final kick to the line in Quimper, where Gilbert opened the hostilities some 800 metres from home.

The Belgian was looking to claim both stage honours and a stint in yellow, and his forceful acceleration put one in mind of his efforts on the Cauberg over the years, but the gradients were not quite steep enough for him to punch clear. Instead, Julien Simon (Cofidis) closed down Gilbert's effort, and as the gradient eased slightly in the final 400 metres, it was Van Avermaet who found himself leading out the reduced bunch sprint.

After biding his time on the stiffest part of the climb and then holding his nerve as the pace dropped following Gilbert's attack, Sagan unfurled a crisp sprint as the finish line reared into the view. As on stage 2, he faced stiff competition from the in-form Colbrelli, who threatened to get on terms but never quite looked like overhauling the Slovakian.

"It was a little bit lucky because Colbrelli was coming close," Sagan said. "Gilbert came over and tried to attack but we caught him. I think that Van Avermaet started too early and, in the end, he pulled a very good sprint for me and Colbrelli."

When Gilbert's attack fizzled out, one might have expected his Quick-Step teammate Julian Alaphilippe to come to the fore in the sprint, but the Frenchman conceded positions on the final corner and could only manage fifth behind Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).

The sinuous roads and rolling hills in the finale meant that the onus was on the general classification contenders to ride on the front in the closing kilometres. Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) took 6th on the stage, while Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) came across the line in 10th place.

Chris Froome's Sky team were prominent on the run-in, with Gianni Moscon and Michal Kwiatkowski coming to the fore on the approach to the final climb. Froome himself was in second wheel underneath the flamme rouge, and came home in 14th place, with Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Richie Porte (BMC) just behind him.

The bunch spent much of the day pursuing the early seven-man break, with the final survivors Toms Skuijns (Trek-Segafredo) and Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) only swept up in the final 12 kilometres, and the speed was relentless on the twisting approach the line.

Ultimately, the podium contenders all finished together in Quimper, but the Tour's first full day in Brittany provided a robust test of nerve – and legs – as the peloton tackled the rippling hills of Finestère. "The parcours was a little bit like the Ardennes – up, down, left, right and a little bit narrow roads," Sagan said. "It was a nice parcours."

Not everyone will have felt the same. Only 38 riders made it to the finish in the front group, with most of the pure sprinters burnt off through the afternoon thanks to the pace-making of Bora-Hansgrohe and BMC, and later Team Sky. Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step), already winner of two stages, was among those to lose touch in the finale, while Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) were distanced almost 80km from home and came in more than 20 minutes down.

"I think our guys did great, they did a lot of work," said Van Avermaet, who stressed that Porte's GC bid was BMC's priority. "Sometimes you can lose more time than in a mountain stage, so I think that it was important to do it."

In the overall standings, Van Avermaet extended his lead over teammate Tejay van Garderen to two seconds after picking up second place behind Alaphilippe at the uphill bonus sprint with 12km remaining. Gilbert moved up to third overall, three seconds down, thanks to the bonus he picked up at the finish. He will surely try again on Thursday's stiff uphill finish at Mûr-de-Bretagne, and he will not be the only one.

How it unfolded

An ill Michael Matthews (Sunweb) and an injured Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) were non-starters as the race left Lorient, and the attrition continued as the peloton snaked through the neighbouring town of Ploemeur, where an early crash forced Robert Kiserlovski (Katusha-Alpecin) out of the Tour.

The day's breakaway forged clear soon afterwards, as Sylvain Chavanel, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal), Julien Vermote (Dimension Data), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Samsic) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) slipped up the road and established a maximum lead of four minutes.

The Tour's first leg entirely on Breton roads was a day of two halves. The opening run along the coast and then inland to the intermediate sprint at Roudouallec was largely flat, before the race hit a succession of climbs on the rolling roads that led to the finish line in Quimper.

The unity of the break fragmented on the day's first classified ascent, the category 4 Côte de Kaliforn, where Chavanel jumped clear to take the mountains points and then continued with his solo effort over the other side. The Frenchman, who is riding in his 18th consecutive Tour de France, had a lead of 45 seconds over the top of the Côte de Trimen shortly afterwards, while his teammate Calmejane could sit on the wheels behind.

Back in the main peloton, meanwhile, there was a distinct injection of pace as the race hit the rugged terrain in the final 100km, with Bora-Hansgrohe prominent. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) were among the sprinters to betray signs of suffering as they dangled perilously off the rear of the bunch, and they were distanced in turn as the intensity ratcheted upwards.

The unfortunate Gesbert crashed out of the break when his wheels slid from under him on the descent off the Trimen, and in the kilometres that followed, the unity of the chasing group began to fragment. When Skuijns attacked in pursuit of Chavanel, only Edet and Calmejane could follow, while De Buyst and Vermote dropped back to the bunch. Chavanel was joined by Edet, Calmejan and Skuijns over the top of the Côte de la Roche du Feu with 60km remaining, where they had two minutes in hand on the peloton.

Chavanel sat up on the following Côte de Menez Quelerc'h, while the climb through the evocative village of Locronan with 25km to go saw the end of Edet's involvement at the head of the race, as Skuijns forced the pace. By that point, Skuijns and Calmejane still had almost a minute in hand, but a sudden injection of pace in the peloton saw them pinned back on the climb to the bonus sprint on the Côte de la Chapelle de la Lorette.

It was breathless fare from there on in, but the last word, as is so often the case, fell to Sagan.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe4:48:06
2Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 2 - Cell 2
4Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step FloorsRow 4 - Cell 2
6Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team EmiratesRow 5 - Cell 2
7Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team SunwebRow 7 - Cell 2
9Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 8 - Cell 2
10Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 10 - Cell 2
12Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 11 - Cell 2
13Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 12 - Cell 2
14Chris Froome (GBr) Team SkyRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 14 - Cell 2
16Egan Bernal (Col) Team SkyRow 15 - Cell 2
17Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-HansgroheRow 19 - Cell 2
21Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 22 - Cell 2
24Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 24 - Cell 2
26Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 25 - Cell 2
27Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team SunwebRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 27 - Cell 2
29Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-ScottRow 28 - Cell 2
30Warren Barguil (Fra) Fortuneo-SamsicRow 29 - Cell 2
31Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 31 - Cell 2
33Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 32 - Cell 2
34Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-JumboRow 33 - Cell 2
35Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-ScottRow 34 - Cell 2
36David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 35 - Cell 2
37Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-JumboRow 36 - Cell 2
38Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step FloorsRow 37 - Cell 2
39Arthur Vichot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:00:14
40Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 39 - Cell 2
41Pierre Rolland (Fra) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale0:00:17
42Magnus Cort (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension DataRow 42 - Cell 2
44Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) LottoNL-JumboRow 43 - Cell 2
45Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 44 - Cell 2
46Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension DataRow 45 - Cell 2
47Dion Smith (NZl) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 46 - Cell 2
48Maxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo-SamsicRow 47 - Cell 2
49Mikel Nieve (Spa) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:23
50Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic0:00:25
51Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 50 - Cell 2
52Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Sunweb0:00:28
54Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 53 - Cell 2
55Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro Team0:00:39
56Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team0:00:49
57Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 56 - Cell 2
58Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:53
59Michael Gogl (Aut) Trek-SegafredoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Amael Moinard (Fra) Fortuneo-SamsicRow 59 - Cell 2
61Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:01:01
62Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin0:01:08
63Laurent Pichon (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic0:01:15
64Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team Emirates0:01:17
65Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 64 - Cell 2
66Romain Sicard (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 65 - Cell 2
67Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 66 - Cell 2
68Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 67 - Cell 2
69Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 68 - Cell 2
70Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo0:01:23
71Darwin Atapuma (Col) UAE Team EmiratesRow 70 - Cell 2
72Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Groupama-FDJ0:01:25
73Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 72 - Cell 2
74Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension DataRow 73 - Cell 2
75Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo0:01:27
76José Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Daniel Martinez (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 77 - Cell 2
79Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 78 - Cell 2
80Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Lotto SoudalRow 79 - Cell 2
81Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 81 - Cell 2
83Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Rein Taaramäe (Est) Direct EnergieRow 83 - Cell 2
85Olivier Le Gac (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 84 - Cell 2
86Kristijan Durasek (Cro) UAE Team EmiratesRow 85 - Cell 2
87Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 86 - Cell 2
88Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 87 - Cell 2
89Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 88 - Cell 2
90Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:46
91Silvan Dillier (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 90 - Cell 2
92Paul Martens (Ger) LottoNL-Jumbo0:01:48
93Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:01:58
94Jack Bauer (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott0:02:10
95Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky0:02:15
96Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team SkyRow 95 - Cell 2
97Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 96 - Cell 2
98Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 97 - Cell 2
99Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-HansgroheRow 98 - Cell 2
100Daniel Oss (Ita) Bora-HansgroheRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jesper Hansen (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale0:02:32
103Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 102 - Cell 2
104Luke Durbridge (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 103 - Cell 2
105Koen de Kort (Ned) Trek-Segafredo0:03:07
106Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 105 - Cell 2
107Kristijan Koren (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 106 - Cell 2
108Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:03:13
109Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick-Step Floors0:03:16
110Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:29
111Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:04:14
112Michael Hepburn (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 111 - Cell 2
113Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team SunwebRow 112 - Cell 2
114Chad Haga (USA) Team Sunweb0:04:17
115John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-SegafredoRow 114 - Cell 2
116Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors0:04:24
117Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step FloorsRow 116 - Cell 2
118Tim Declercq (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 117 - Cell 2
119Wout Poels (Ned) Team SkyRow 118 - Cell 2
120Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension DataRow 119 - Cell 2
121Michael Valgren (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 121 - Cell 2
123Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 122 - Cell 2
124Jerome Cousin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 123 - Cell 2
125Oliviero Troia (Ita) UAE Team Emirates0:05:24
126Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors0:05:26
127Edward Theuns (Bel) Team Sunweb0:07:52
128Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team EmiratesRow 127 - Cell 2
129Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 128 - Cell 2
130Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 129 - Cell 2
131Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
132Ian Boswell (USA) Katusha-AlpecinRow 131 - Cell 2
133Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team SkyRow 132 - Cell 2
134Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
135Mathew Hayman (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 134 - Cell 2
136Patrick Bevin (NZl) BMC Racing TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
137Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-SegafredoRow 136 - Cell 2
138Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic0:08:55
139Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo-SamsicRow 138 - Cell 2
140Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Bahrain-Merida0:12:50
141Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Bora-HansgroheRow 140 - Cell 2
142Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 141 - Cell 2
143Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 142 - Cell 2
144Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
145Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Groupama-FDJRow 144 - Cell 2
146Simon Gerrans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
147Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo-SamsicRow 146 - Cell 2
148Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 147 - Cell 2
149Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 148 - Cell 2
150Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 149 - Cell 2
151Daniele Bennati (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 150 - Cell 2
152Roberto Ferrari (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 151 - Cell 2
153Julien Vermote (Bel) Dimension Data0:17:17
154André Greipel (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 153 - Cell 2
155Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 154 - Cell 2
156Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty-Groupe GobertRow 155 - Cell 2
157Taylor Phinney (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 156 - Cell 2
158Tom Scully (NZl) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 157 - Cell 2
159Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 158 - Cell 2
160Timo Roosen (Ned) LottoNL-JumboRow 159 - Cell 2
161Jay Thomson (RSA) Dimension Data0:20:56
162Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension DataRow 161 - Cell 2
163Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension DataRow 162 - Cell 2
164Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Groupama-FDJRow 163 - Cell 2
165Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-JumboRow 164 - Cell 2
166Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 165 - Cell 2
167Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 166 - Cell 2
168Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Nor) LottoNL-JumboRow 167 - Cell 2
169Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 168 - Cell 2
170Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b CannondaleRow 169 - Cell 2
DNSMichael Matthews (Aus) Team SunwebRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Kiserlovski (Cro) Katusha-AlpecinRow 171 - Cell 2
DNSTiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 172 - Cell 2
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Intermediate sprint - Roudouallec, km. 92.5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie20pts
2Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits17Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto Soudal15Row 2 - Cell 3
4Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Julien Vermote (Bel) Dimension Data11Row 4 - Cell 3
6Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo9Row 6 - Cell 3
8Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ5Row 10 - Cell 3
12André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin1Row 14 - Cell 3
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Points
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe30pts
2Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida25Row 1 - Cell 3
3Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors22Row 2 - Cell 3
4Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team19Row 3 - Cell 3
5Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors17Row 4 - Cell 3
6Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates15Row 5 - Cell 3
7Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team13Row 6 - Cell 3
8Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb11Row 7 - Cell 3
9Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert9Row 8 - Cell 3
10Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida7Row 9 - Cell 3
11Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits6Row 10 - Cell 3
12Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky5Row 11 - Cell 3
13Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky3Row 13 - Cell 3
15Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal2Row 14 - Cell 3
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Mountain 1 (Cat. 4) Côte de Kaliforn, km. 106
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie1
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Côte de Trimen (Cat. 4) km. 113
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie1
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