Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 5: Powersolo Bart De Clercq

Stage 5 leads from Nowy Sącz to Zakopane and in 223 kilometer it is the longest in this year's Tour de Pologne. En route the riders crest eight KOM-climbs and one might expect the likes of Aru to take control, but no, it is the smart Belgian Bart De Clercq who attacks with 5 kilometres left in the front group and he soloes to victory. While he is at it, he takes the leader's jersey also. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Tour de Pologne

1. Bart De Clerq (bel)
2. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.03
3. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) s.t.
4. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.07
5. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
6. Davide Rebellin (ita) s.t.
7. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
8. Christophe Riblon (fra) s.t.
9. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Bart De Clercq (bel)
2. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.04
3. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.06
4. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
5. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.09
6. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) z.t.
7. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.15
8. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.16
9. Christophe Riblon (fra) + 0.17
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.

Race report
Once the flag is dropped, attacks are like gunfire. Groups of four, five, seven and even twenty don’t make it. It’s only when Valee, Berltan, Turgot, Bole, Breen and Boeckmans join forces the break of the day takes shapes and they race to an advantage of 6 minutes and there it lingers for a while, but entering the first of two laps the break enjoys a 4 minutes advantage and it keeps shrinking.

Boeckmans and Turgot get dropped, while Bole takes most KOM points at the first four climbs. Then the escapees are caught with the exception of Berltan, who is soloing upfront and takes the KOM points at climb #5. But eventually he is brought back also.

With 40 km’s left agroup a 42 riders leave the rest of the pack. All favourites are awake, except for Kwiatkowski. After another acceleration 14 riders are left upfront and despite an attack by Formolo and Aru the break is back together again with 9 km’s to go.

At 5 km’s left from the finish line Bartd De Clerq attacks and when Ulissi and Reichenback try to bridge the gap. Right attack at the right moment. Nice move and as a bonus De Clercq grabs the leader’s jersey.