Stage 5, a shorter stage covering 127 kilometers, but with multiple category 3 and 4 climbs, it’s what we call a “bumpy” stage, and it was ideal for Peter Sagan who has legs for those smaller climbs that can be too much for the other sprinters AND he has the speed for the finish.
Stage 5 also contained an important intermediate sprint in the last third of the course that awarded a time bonus of 3, 2, 1-seconds for the 1, 2nd, 3rd riders, respectively. For the riders competing for the yellow jersey, those seconds matter.
Seven riders broke away from the beginning of Stage 5, and from that group, Direct Energie rider Sylvain Chavanel took off to lead the race for some time.
Once the bumps came, though, breakaway rider Tom Skujins of team Trek Segafredo and KOM winner at the Tour of California, attacked the breakaway. There was some battling between Skujins and Direct Energie rider Lilian Calmejane, but it was Skujins getting the KOM points he needed to take the polka dot jersey at the end of stage 5. (Polka dot jersey is worn by the man leading the King of the Mountain competition, which is like the green jersey but for climbers. Riders accumulate points for reaching the tops of designated climbs first.)
Moving on to the main field, Team BMC protected the yellow jersey on the shoulders of Greg Van Avermaet and the peloton kept the pace controlled with no attacks. This changed with about 20 km to go. The peloton got serious and kicked things up a notch to catch the breakaway riders in order to fight for those time bonuses at the intermediate sprint.
Julian Alaphilippe of Quick-Step stole away to get those 3 bonus seconds and Greg Avermaet got the 2 seconds bonus, keeping him safely in yellow as long as he stayed with the group to the finish (which he did).
In the last 7 km, Team Sky charged to the front of the peloton to control things before the roads started narrowing for the finish. They wanted to keep Chris Froome safe, but this was also of great service to many of the other riders at the front, including Peter Sagan.
Sagan’s main green jersey rival Fernando Gaviria was unable to keep up with the quickened pace, and this opened things up for the other riders suited to this stage: Alejandro Valverde, Julian Alaphilippe, Philipe Gilbert, and Greg Avermaet, Vincenzo Nibali. A lot of guys were poised to attack that finish.
It was Sagan’s patience and speed that once again won the day! He tucked behind Van Avermaet who went out a bit too early for his legs and was able to jump at the right time and hold off a charging Sonny Colbrelli of team Bahrain-Merida. (Woohoooo!!!)
Stage 5 marked Sagan’s 10th Tour de France win, and you can watch him finesse the finish HERE.
Misfortunes and Opportunity
Stage 5 withdrawals included Lotto Soudal rider Tiesj Benoot who crashed hard in stage 4 and did not start stage 5. 2017 green jersey winner Michael Matthews also did not start stage 5 due to illness, and a crash early in the stage left Robert Kiserlovski of team Katusha-Alpecin too injured to continue.
American Lawson Craddock who crashed in the feed zone on stage 1 and has been racing with a fractured shoulder blade and stitches in his left eye has turned his misfortune into inspiration by raising money for Hurricane Harvey relief and the Alkek velodrome in Houston, Texas.
Riding in massive pain, the Texan is determined to continue as long as he can. He spoke in tears after Stage 1 about the amount of preparation he’d done and feeling it’s too soon to go home with all that work and team support behind him.
So Craddock is motivated and pushing on even if it means riding out of the saddle to push up these punchy climbs, a position that’s darn uncomfortable for Craddock according to an interview with NBC. For every day he completes a stage, he is donating $100 to the velodrome that supports youth riding, and he is inviting donations from fans.
After completing stage 5, the Texan had raised over $40,000. That’s inspiring!
i heart july 