Cycling: With a spirited attack just before the finish, Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates) secured victory on the fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. When the Irishman started to attack, the competitors looked at each other and reacted too late. Even the extremely strong Geraint Thomas (Sky) could no longer provide Dan Martin, but took the yellow jersey instead. Fourth in the stage was the German Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe), who once again demonstrated his qualities in the mountains.
Cataldo secures valuable mountain points
The ranking drivers at the Critérium du Dauphiné are given no rest. The fifth stage should also be a matter for the climbers, after yesterday there was already a mountain finish and the two remaining stages will also end uphill. Today's section from Grenoble to Valmorel was only 130 kilometers long. After a demanding start with two mountain classifications in the second category, the racing action rippled along for many kilometers. Action was taken care of at the beginning and at the end. Because right after the start it rained down on attack after attack. The two mountain classifications could Dario Cataldo (Astana) but no one dispute. Ultimately, the group of the day formed of eight but without the Italian: Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Laurens De Plus (Quick-Step Floors), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Carlos Verona ( Mitchelton-Scott), Edward Ravasi (UAE Team Emirates), Matteo Fabbro (Katusha-Alpecin) and Bruno Armirail (FDJ).
Bora-hansgrohe and Sky close the gap
Although no riders in the leading group posed a threat to the overall standings, Team Sky didn't let them go far. Gradually, other teams also got involved in the tracking work, so that the lead in the flat section did not increase any further and was usually between two and three minutes. In particular, the German team Bora-hansgrohe was very committed to captain Emmanuel Buchman. A successful passage was out of the question. With a length of 12,7 kilometers and an average incline of seven percent, the final ascent offered perfect conditions for a battle between the favorites – and for the dreaded sky train. With five men in the lead, the British team tackled the final climb and easily picked up escape after escape. Mitchelton-Scott also participated for Adam Yates.
Thomas reacts too late to Martin
opened 3,7 kilometers from the finish Marc Soler (Movistar) the fire. After a counterattack by Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott), Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) formed a 10-strong group, to which the leader Gianni moscon (Sky) no longer mattered. As Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) attacked, the competition just looked at each other. A few seconds passed before the pursuit was started - too late. The Irishman could no longer be caught. Even an attack by Geraint Thomas could no longer prevent success. At least Thomas can be happy about the lead in the overall standings. Drove to a strong fourth place behind Adam Yates Emmanuel Buchman. The work of his team-mates wasn't entirely worth it, but the German was able to show once again that he's a force to be reckoned with in the mountains.
(I.e.@DanMartin86 of 🇦🇪@TeamUAEAbuDhabi wins stage 5 of 🇫🇷@dauphine #Dauphine (📺@Eurosport_NL) pic.twitter.com/e2S2cXNb5m
— World Cycling Stats (@wcstats) June 8, 2018
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