The calm before the storm. After a team time trial, three stages finished off by the breakaway and a sprint finish, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tour —former Dauphiné— will arrive tomorrow at the high mountainswhere the big favorites will seek to hit the table in pursuit of winning a yellow jersey which, like in the Tour de France, is their ‘Holy Grail’. In it Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombesglory has fallen to Wout van Aert, who has been able to impose his top speed a few kilometers from some Alps that tomorrow will begin to pass judgment in the general.
About the profile, The fifth stage of the French race had two clearly differentiated parts: a broken terrain conducive to forming the escape and a second completely flat section perfect for hunting said escape. In its first kilometers, six runners, among whom was Julen Arriolabengoa from Caja Rural, achieved an advantage that, as the kilometers passed, stabilized around 2’00”, as had happened on the previous day.
An irreplaceable cyclist
Van Aert sought glory; therefore, the Vismahand in hand with Bruno Armiraildecided to take responsibility in the platoon. However, support from structures such as Cofidis, Tudor or Bahrain, who were also looking for a stage victory to achieve before the high mountains. Then, The difference between the race leader and the group of favorites began to progressively reduce.
Race classifications.
The nerves appeared with 16 kilometers to gowhen the peloton pressed and the breakaway fragmented in search of an impossible. However, just over 10 kilometers away, hopes were dashed. The stage victory would be decided between the fast men. The three kilometers of the final stretch provided a sprint of pure power, ideal for sprinters. Over there, Van Aert proved intractable, surpassing with authority a Dorian Godon which had dominated mass arrivals throughout the season. An irreplaceable cyclist.