The Belgian rider is BMC’s Greg van Avermat from the breakaway won the first mountain stage of a Big loop and won the yellow Jersey.
Van Avermat and another eight riders, including the only Ukrainian in the Tour de France Andrey Grivko, made it to the breakaway of the day. For 126 km to go van Avermat, Grivko and De Gendt escaped from his companions. The main group headed yellow Jersey Peter Sagan released the lead on 15 minutes.
Soon Grivno could not maintain the pace of the two Belgians, and 17.5 km to go van Avermat dropped de Gendt and went to his second stage on the Big loop. Along the way, the Belgian became the new leader of the General standings, with his advantage over the nearest pursuer more than five minutes.
Tomorrow the Tour de France 190-kilometer stage cross-country – riders will have to conquer the three categorical tops, and the finish of the day will be flat.
The results of the fifth stage:
1. Greg van Avermat (Belgium, BMC) – 5:of 31.36
2. Thomas de Gendt (Belgium, Lotto Soudal) – 2,34
3. Rafal Majka (Poland, Tinkoff) Was 5.04
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain, “Katyusha”)
5. Daniel Martin (Ireland, Etixx-QuickStep) Is 5.07
Overall standings after the fifth stage:
1. Greg van Avermat (Belgium, BMC) – 25:34,46
2. Julian Alaphilippe (France, Etixx-QuickStep) – 5,11
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain, Movistar) – 5,13
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain, “Katyusha”) – 5,14
5. Christopher Froome (UK, Sky) – 5,17
