Tour de France 2018 Stage 5: Sagan wins uphill sprint, Van Avermaet retains maillot jaune

The Tour de France's 5th stage is a hilly race of 204.5 kilometres in the southern part of Brittany. The final kilometre in Quimper climbs at almost 5%. Peter Sagan outguns Sonny Colbrelli on the line, while Philippe Gilbert sprints to third place. He closes in on yellow, but Greg Van Avermaet is still GC leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2018 Tour de France

1. Peter Sagan (svk)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
3. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) z.t
6. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
7. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
8. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) s.t.
9. Andrea Pasqualon (ita) s.t.
10. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.

12. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
14. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
17. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
18. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
19. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
20. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
21. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
22. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
25. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
26 Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
27. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
29. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
33. Ilnur Zakarin (rus)
34. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
37. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
38. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.

GC after the 5th stage
1. Greg Van Avermaet (bel)
2. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.02
3. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.03
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.04
5. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.05
6. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.09
7. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.13
8. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) s.t.
9. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.37
10. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.52

11. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.53
12. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
13. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.55
14. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
15. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.57
16. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.02
17. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.08
18. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.17
19. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
20. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
22. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 1.18
24. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.40
29. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.53
33. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.10

Race report
Sylvain Chavanel, Lilian Calmejane, Toms Skujiņš, Jasper De Buyst, Julien Vermote, Élie Gesbert and Nicolas Edet open up a gap at kilometre 5, which they widen to more than 5 minutes.

Chavanel goes solo on the first classified climb, Côte de Kaliforn, and he pockets most KOM points at the top. He pushes on to crest the second hill, Côte de Trimen, on his own as well. Gesbert takes a dive into the ditch on descent.

On the third climb, Côte de la Roche du Peu, Chavanel once again cements his KOM lead. A little later Calmejane, Skujiņš and Edet rejoin the front of the race.

Chavanel can’t follow the pace on the Côte de Menez Quelerc’h. When Skujiņš accelerates the other two are dropped too, but on descent the three come together.

Calmejane and Skujiņš drop Edet on the Côte de la montagne de Locronan before Skujiņš is first to crest. The Latvian rider takes the polka dot jersey.

The two are caught just before the intermediate sprint for time bonuses – Julian Alaphilippe takes 3 seconds, Van Avermaet 2. Then Rein Taaramäe gives it a go, but to no avail.

Philippe Gilbert kicks 700 metres before the line without opening a proper gap. Greg Van Avermaet takes over before the race comes down to a Peter Sagan-Sonny Colbrelli clash. The World Champion outguns the Italian, just like he did three days ago in la Roche-sur-Yon. Gilbert claims third place and a time bonus of 4 seconds.

The Wallonian is 3 seconds down on Van Avermaet’s yellow jersey, with Julian Alaphilippe 1 second further back, so we are to expect Quick-Step to strike on tomorrow’s stage to the steep Mûr-de-Bretagne.