Results 5th stage Tour de France 2014
1. Lars Boom (Nld)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.19
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 1.01
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) s.t.
6. Jens Keukeleire (bel) s.t.
7. Michael Kwiatkowski (pol) + 1.07
8. Lieuwe Westra (Nld) + 1.09
9. Matteo Trentin (ita) + 1.21
10. Cyril Lemoine (fra) + 1.45
16. Jurgen Van den Broeck (bel) + 2.02
20. Richie Porte (aus) + 2.11
22. Andrew Talansky (USA) + 2.22
25. Rui Costa (por) + 2.28
26. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
31. Tejay van Garderen (USA) s.t.
34. Bauke Mollema (Nld) + 2.44
37. Alberto Contador (spa) + 2.54
GC after stage 5th stage
1. Vincenzo Nibali (ita)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.02
3. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 0.44
4. Michael Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.50
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) + 1.17
6. Jurgen Van den Broeck (bel) + 1.45
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
8. Richie Porte (aus) +1.54
9. Andrew Talansky (USA) +2.05
10. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.11
Race report
At the eleventh hour the ASO skipped both Mons-en-Pévèle and Orchies to Beuvry-la-Forêt, two cobbled sector totalling 2.4 kilometres. Too slippery because of incessant rain.
Nine riders are off in the streets of Ypres: Westra (image), Gallopin, Martin, Clarke, Burghardt, Dumoulin (Samuel), Taaramäe, Acevedo and Hayman. They don’t get it for granted and the gap sticks to around 1’30”.
When Martin and Acevedo fall the breaks splinters. Westra, Gallopin, Clarke, Dumoulin, Taaramäe, Martin and Hayman stay upfront. The pace is high, in the first hour riders have covered almost 50 kilometres.
With 100 kilometres left the bunch slows down a bit and the gap goes to over 3 minutes.
The stage is filled with crashes, even before the cobbles. Froome was on the deck after 35 kilometres and with 66 kilometres he falls again. This time the defending champion calls it quits. Valverde and Van Garderen are in pursuit.
Upon reaching the first cobbles Vanmarcke takes the lead and GC men Nibali, Contador, Talansky, Costa, Van den Broeck and Mollema are well placed.
At the next sector Taaramäe is dropped from the break. In the bunch Vanmarcke is first again, not far behind Nibali, Van den Broeck and Talansky are awake. Contador, Costa and Mollema have to give in time and space.
In the third section Boom and Vanmarcke attack and Talansky and Van den Broeck hit the cobbles. Nibali, Kwiatkowski and Sagan are still straight. 16 kilometres till the next section.
Westra drops from the break to support his leader Nibali and the Dutchman sets the pace and leads the chasing group to both Vanmarcke, Boom and the escapees upfront. The group with Contador et all is over 1 minute down.
Team mates Boom and Vanmarcke are strongest upfront, but the latter is unfortunate with a puncture and can forget about the stage win. The Talansky/Van den Broeck group is 1’30” down and Contador, Mollema, Van Garderen and Valverde are at 2 minutes.
At the penultimate sector the Astana’s speed away and the only rider to follow is Boom. Four riders upfront now. Nibali, Fuglsang, Westra and Boom. Nibali is delivering a major GC blow.
On the finale section Boom attacks. He leaves Nibali behind and Fuglsang can’t follow either. Westra had to drop earlier.
Once at the tarmac Boom is solo upfront and he streches the gap to Fuglsang and Nibali, who are doing a splendid GC job anyway.
Covered in mud the Dutchman celebrates his heroic victory. Nibali is celebrating as well. The Shark of Messina is cementing his overall lead with a very strong performance.
Tour de France 2014 Stage 5: Images and more
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