Critérium du Dauphiné 2017: Sprint victory Phil Bauhaus, Thomas De Gendt holds on to yellow

In the 5th stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné the riders travel on a hilly course from La Tour-de-Salvagny to Mâcon. The race boils down to a bunch sprint with young Phil Bauhaus outsprinting Arnaud Démare. Thomas De Gendt is still the man in yellow. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Phil Bauhaus (ger)
2. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
3. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.
4. Adrien Petit (fra) s.t.
5. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
6. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
7. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
9. Enrico Battaglin (ita) s.t.
10. Oliver Naesen (bel) s.t.

GC after the 5th stage
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.27
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.51
4. Stef Clement (nld) + 0.55
5. Alberto Contador (spa) + 1.02
6. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.04
7. Brent Bookwalter (usa) + 1.12
8. Jesus Herrada (spa) + 1.15
9. Sam Oomen (nld) + 1.17
10. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 1.22

12. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 1.27
14. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.30
18. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.45
19. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
31. Romain Bardet (fra) + 2.20

Race report
Shortly after the start the Côte de Belmont-d’Azergues looms. De Gendt is first to crest the 1.4 km hill at 8.6%, thus cementing his KOM lead. Koen Bouwman is the second rider on the top.

Bouwman pushes on. The young Dutchman is one of the most active riders and after a stint with Clarke, Reguigui, Minnaard, El Fares and Hupond he gets more lucky in the company of Dylan van Baarle, Marco Minnaard and Julien El Fares.

Bouwman is the first rider atop Côte de Régnié-Durette, Col du Fut d’Avenas, Côte d’Ouroux, Col de Champ Juin and Col du Bois Clair. So he is the new KOM leader. With 25 kms left he is dropped from the front group. Minnaard and El Fares can’t follow Van Baarle’s pace either.

While the maximum gap amounted to 5 minutes, Van Baarle is reeled in with 6 kms to go. In the ensuing bunch sprint the 22-year old German Phil Bauhaus outsprints Arnaud Démare.

Thomas De Gendt holds on to the yellow jersey.