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Tour de France Stage 5: Fabio Aru wins, Chris Froome back in yellow

Italian champion takes first summit finish of this year's race, overall lead changes hands within Team Sky...

Astana’s Fabio Aru has won Stage 5 of the Tour de France at La Planche des Belles Filles, the first true summit finish of this year’s race as attention switched from the departures through injury of Mark Cavendish and disqualification of Peter Sagan to the battle for the overall victory.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, meanwhile, have swapped places at the top of the general classification, with the defending champion back in the yellow jersey.

It’s a quarter of a century since a Category 1 climb featured this early in the race, and nearly four decades since there was a summit finish on one, and this particular ascent has developed a reputation for being a strong indication of who will be there or thereabouts come Paris.

The climb made its debut in the 2012 Tour de France when Froome won on his way to finishing runner-up to team mate Bradley Wiggins, and was used again in 2014 when the stage went to that year’s eventual winner, Vincenzo Nibali.

Early on in the 160.5km stage from Vittel stage, an eight-man breakaway got clear, and what a group it was too packed with star names, including Philippe Gilbert of Quick-Step Floors, Direct Energie’s Thomas Voeckler and Dimension Data rider Edvald Boasson Hagen.

They were joined by AG2R-La Mondiale’s Jan Bakelants, Pierre-Luc Perichon of Fortuneo, FDJ’s Mickael Delage, Thomas De Gendt of Lotto Soudal and Cannondale-Drapac’s Dylan van Baarle.

Bakelants and Gilbert led the race onto the final, 5.9-kilometre climb having got away from their fellow escapees but the main group was closing fast with Team Sky now leading the chase after BMC Racing, working for Richie Porte, had forced the pace for most of the day.

With 2.4km remaining and the leading pair long caught, Aru attacked from the group led by the Team Sky trio of Mikel Nieve, Thomas and Froome.

> Tour Tech 2017: Fabio Aru’s stage 5 winning Argon 18 Gallium Pro

Lying 52 seconds off the race lead overnight, the Italian national champion quickly built a quarter of a minute’s advantage while behind him the overall contenders’ group was blown apart as Orica-Scott’s Simon Yates launched an attack with 2 kilometres to go.

Aru, who now lies third overall 14 seconds off the race lead, would not be caught, winning by 16 seconds from Quick Step Floors rider Dan Martin.

 Froome was a further 20 seconds back as he took the yellow jersey from Thomas, who drops to second overall, 12 seconds behind his team mate.

> Tour de France 2017 preview: Your stage-by-stage guide to cycling's biggest race

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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27 comments

Avatar
missionsystem | 7 years ago
1 like

It is a mistake to underestimate Aru... I reckon he's a GC contender.

Not a great tester but he rides with his heart on his sleeve - good man!

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RobD | 7 years ago
0 likes

Small correction, I don't think Froome was a further 20 seconds back, he was a further 4 seconds back from Dan Martin or 20 seconds behind Aru

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
2 likes

That Froome/Sagan breakaway last year was magic.

sad

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

Don't think Quintana's got anything in the locker this year, more so since one of his main men is out. I know it's a long old race but I'd have thought he would have been matching Froome until the end today. 

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Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes

I hope everyone enjoys the daily battle for the stage, because this is going to be the most boring year in the GC since, well as long as I can remember. (Or 2012)

No Froome weird descending.

No Contador crashing on the descent.

No Schleck lone break away, and Evans agonised face chasing back.*

No Schleck slipping chain

No You know who cutting across a wheat field.

and now no Sagan of course.

*Possibly the greatest mountain head to head ever, and they weren't ever in sight of each other, just brilliant. We need a mountain time trail with no aero kit or special bikes starting at 2000m elevation.

Avatar
Spacer replied to Leviathan | 7 years ago
1 like

Leviathan wrote:

 

 

No Schleck lone break away, and Evans agonised face chasing back.*

 

*Possibly the greatest mountain head to head ever

You what? Hahaha. Are you new to this?

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
0 likes

BMC tried to boss the day and wear the other teams down hoping to expose any weakness in Froome. It did expose fragility in Quintana and Contador, Froome was today a match for Richie Porte. I don't see Aru being a GC contender this year, despite an impressive win, no one really chased him down when he went for a break.

Avatar
Jackson replied to CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
0 likes
CXR94Di2 wrote:

BMC tried to boss the day and wear the other teams down hoping to expose any weakness in Froome. It did expose fragility in Quintana and Contador, Froome was today a match for Richie Porte. I don't see Aru being a GC contender this year, despite an impressive win, no one really chased him down when he went for a break.

You don't see him being a GC contender because none of the other guys could catch him? Interesting point of view...

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to Jackson | 7 years ago
0 likes

Jackson wrote:
CXR94Di2 wrote:

BMC tried to boss the day and wear the other teams down hoping to expose any weakness in Froome. It did expose fragility in Quintana and Contador, Froome was today a match for Richie Porte. I don't see Aru being a GC contender this year, despite an impressive win, no one really chased him down when he went for a break.

You don't see him being a GC contender because none of the other guys could catch him? Interesting point of view...

He's got no chance unless Froome, Porte, Quintana DNF. he might, might even sneak a podium, but even with a very short ITT he'd need to find 2 minutes in the mountains over Froome/Porte et al. He's okay on punchy climbs but he just doesn't have enough in the locker to be a serious contender .

Avatar
CXR94Di2 replied to Jackson | 7 years ago
1 like
Jackson wrote:
CXR94Di2 wrote:

BMC tried to boss the day and wear the other teams down hoping to expose any weakness in Froome. It did expose fragility in Quintana and Contador, Froome was today a match for Richie Porte. I don't see Aru being a GC contender this year, despite an impressive win, no one really chased him down when he went for a break.

You don't see him being a GC contender because none of the other guys could catch him? Interesting point of view...

They really didn't chase him because Froome, Porte, bardet and Quintana were all watching each other. The lead Aru won by was pegged when the others started to race each other. So if and when Aru tries again he will be marked. Like bike shed mentions he will struggle on the longer climbs and TT

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drosco | 7 years ago
1 like

No joy from me watching an Astana win I'm afraid.

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alansmurphy | 7 years ago
7 likes

Spoiler Alert PR:

 

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care.

 

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC...

Avatar
Simon_MacMichael replied to alansmurphy | 7 years ago
4 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

Spoiler Alert PR:

 

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care.

 

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC...

 

Avoid all news and social media #FTFY

​And for what it's worth, we experimented a few years back with doing spoiler-free headlines on race reports (these were races not broadcast live, but where there was a highlights show later).

No-one read them.

 

Avatar
Awavey replied to Simon_MacMichael | 7 years ago
0 likes
Simon_MacMichael wrote:

Avoid all news and social media #FTFY

​And for what it's worth, we experimented a few years back with doing spoiler-free headlines on race reports (these were races not broadcast live, but where there was a highlights show later).

No-one read them.

 

See the Giro Rosa article was a one off then...  2

Avatar
watlina replied to Simon_MacMichael | 7 years ago
0 likes

Simon_MacMichael wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

Spoiler Alert PR:

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care.

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC...

Avoid all news and social media #FTFY

​And for what it's worth, we experimented a few years back with doing spoiler-free headlines on race reports (these were races not broadcast live, but where there was a highlights show later).

No-one read them.

"No-one read them."

Is that not the whole idea, some people don't want to see it. Spolier-free headline or not to be on the safe side I stop looking at road.cc/twitter/instagram from about 15:00 during all Grand Tours as I like to watch the highlights show on TV with out already knowing the stage results.

 

Avatar
madcarew replied to watlina | 7 years ago
2 likes

watlina wrote:

Simon_MacMichael wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

Spoiler Alert PR:

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care.

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC...

Avoid all news and social media #FTFY

​And for what it's worth, we experimented a few years back with doing spoiler-free headlines on race reports (these were races not broadcast live, but where there was a highlights show later).

No-one read them.

"No-one read them."

Is that not the whole idea, some people don't want to see it. Spolier-free headline or not to be on the safe side I stop looking at road.cc/twitter/instagram from about 15:00 during all Grand Tours as I like to watch the highlights show on TV with out already knowing the stage results.

 

 

"No-one read them."

"Is that not the whole idea,"

Aaah, No. When you have a cycling news site, you actually want people to read the articles, or what the hell is the point. What Simon is trying to point ou to you, is that they tried your suggestion a few years ago, and it had a very detrimental impact on their business, their ability to bring you the news that you like for the other 49 weeks of the year. He didn't mena no-ne read the head lines, he meant no-one read the articles. 

You at least have the right idea. If you don't want to know the result until you've watched, keep off news sites, web sites, social media feeds, TV, Radio until you've watched it. 

Avatar
LastBoyScout replied to alansmurphy | 7 years ago
0 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

Spoiler Alert PR:

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care.

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC...

Anyone else get the email from Human Race Cycling with the subject "Froome in Yellow"?

Seems it's not just social media and news sites you have to avoid!

Avatar
madcarew replied to alansmurphy | 7 years ago
2 likes

lansmurphy

Spoiler Alert PR:

We did this debate yesterday and concluded Road CC don't care about all their readers, not just the ones who can't use enough common sense to not go on cycling pages on the interwebs if they don't want to know TdF results yet

If you want to avoid the result, avoid Road CC and any other news forum, especially those invovling cycling until after you've watched the race.

And please, not so precious. It's unbecoming of a cyclist

 

Avatar
Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
3 likes

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Avatar
davel replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
2 likes

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_consensus_effect

 

Avatar
Kadinkski replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
6 likes

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Bollocks. By 'people' you mean yourself.

Avatar
fustuarium replied to Kadinkski | 7 years ago
1 like
Kadinkski wrote:

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Bollocks. By 'people' you mean yourself.

I'll see your bollocks and raise you a 'talking out of your arse' since people includes me as well  1

Avatar
Spacer replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
0 likes

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

 

Where did you get the statistics upon which you are basing this assertion?

You don't have any, do you?

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
3 likes

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

As a road cycling website I would imagine reporting the Tour results is not only part of the service Road.Cc provides, but its also a highlight of the year.   If I ran it I would have a link to a live feed:  the BBC have one.  

Avatar
madcarew replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
5 likes

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Fancy that, a road cycling website containing details of the winner of today's stage in the worlds' most widely watched road cycling race? (plagiarised)

It only requires a modicum of intelligence to realise that if you browse cycling websites you are almost certain to come across a 'spoiler' for that day's results at some point. It really is quite  simple; rather than asking everyone else and every website to modify their behaviour,  altering their reporting styles, advertiser commitments etc, how about you simply exercise that modicum of intelligence, modify your behaviour,  and don't go on a cycling website until you've watched the race? Also I suggest you keep your twitter feed, facebook feed, radio and television turned off too. 

Avatar
Russell Orgazoid replied to madcarew | 7 years ago
0 likes

madcarew wrote:

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Fancy that, a road cycling website containing details of the winner of today's stage in the worlds' most widely watched road cycling race? (plagiarised)

It only requires a modicum of intelligence to realise that if you browse cycling websites you are almost certain to come across a 'spoiler' for that day's results at some point. It really is quite  simple; rather than asking everyone else and every website to modify their behaviour,  altering their reporting styles, advertiser commitments etc, how about you simply exercise that modicum of intelligence, modify your behaviour,  and don't go on a cycling website until you've watched the race? Also I suggest you keep your twitter feed, facebook feed, radio and television turned off too. 

went to a lot of effort there, didn't we?

Road.cc could simply not issue the details of the stage but put "stage results here" or whatever.

it means lots like me won't avoid the website for hours and your precious advertisers get what they want.

there you go.....you got the reaction you hankered after.

Avatar
pruaga replied to Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
1 like

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

You spoil more people's enjoyment of the race than please those looking for news of it with the updates prior to the highlights programme.

Let's imagine y ou didn't watch the world cup final and were going to watch highlights later on.  Would you go and look at www.football.cc in the time between the match ending and watching the highlights?

I don't watch any stages live, but I find it pretty easy to watch the highlights in the evening without a clue what happened because I don't look at sports websites.  The only time I came close to being 'spoiled' was the Froome vs Moto incident last year, when I knew 'something big' happened but didn't know what (although bizzarrely on that occasion ITV started the highlights show with the result)

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