Cycling: Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) remains the Tourminator. The World Champion today won his second stage of the 2018 Tour de France again ahead of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida). Thanks to the speed work of his teammates, the breakaways were caught in time and opponent Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) was left behind. The French Equipe Direct Energie presented themselves extremely offensive today, but ended up empty-handed at the end of the day.
7 escapees, 5 mountains classifications
Today the drivers covered more than 204,5 kilometers from Lorient to Quimper. Before five climbs in the third and fourth category had to be mastered, the breakaway group of the day formed after a somewhat longer struggle. Finally, with Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Samsic), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal), Julien Vermote (Dimension Data), Tom Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), as well as Sylvain Chavanel and Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie). seven drivers granted a head start. Unfortunately kicked Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) no longer on today's stage. He suffered cuts to his head, bruised ribs, shoulder blade and wrist, and a dislocated shoulder in yesterday's mass fall just before the finish line. Michael Matthews (Sunweb) was also not at the start. After a fall in the early stages also gave Robert Kiserlovski (Katusha-Alpecin) on the Tour de France.
Direct Energy plays cat and mouse
Behind the escapees, Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) secured seven points in Roudouallec with 112km to go. Behind them Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) rolled over the line. After the aid zone, the wavy second half began with the Côte de Kaliforn. While Sylvain Chavanel passed with an attack forward, lost Elie Gesbert took control on the descent, flew into the embankment and finally back into the peloton. The harmony in the chasing group was gone. Because Chavanel secured the mountain points and teammate Calmejane was allowed to rest in the slipstream of his companions. Finally, before the Côte de Menez Quelerc'h came together Chavanel, Calmejane, Skujins and Edet. Meanwhile, the Bora-hansgrohe team took the lead in the main field. This had an immediate effect on the climbs. A few sprinters immediately lost touch, including Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) and Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).
Skujins conquers the mountain jersey - Direct Energie gets nothing
Da Chavanel could no longer follow his companions, it got tight again in the fight for the mountain jersey. skujins secured the two remaining mountain prizes calmjane and got four points. However, as he was able to win more higher classified climbs, Skujins will start tomorrow in a mountain jersey. Bitter for the Direct Energie team, who went home empty-handed despite the great effort at the end of the day. The remaining breakaways were no longer able to seriously intervene in the battle for the stage win, as the Bora-hansgrohe and BMC teams were able to close the gap twelve kilometers before the finish line. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) secured the bonus sprint in front of Greg van Avermaet (BMC), which allowed the two to gain three and two seconds in the overall classification.
Peter Sagan remains alert and flawless
Ten kilometers before the finish, the French team Direct Energie drew the next trump card: Rein Taaramäe tried his hand at being a soloist. But even he couldn't save the day for today's committed team. Sky took command and led the peloton into the final kilometers. As the Rouge flame blew over the peloton, the final climb began with an average of 4,8 percent. Immediately sat Philip Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) an attack. greg van avermaet (BMC), Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida), Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) and Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) stayed on his rear wheel. As it flattened out a bit in the last 300 meters, Sagan was able to show off his sprint strength perfectly and race to his second stage win in the 2018 Tour de France. Behind him, Colbrelli secured second place ahead of Gilbert and Valverde.
Peter Sagan vinner stage 5!!! @Vacchi @OntSnapping pic.twitter.com/oW30LT210L
— Eurosport Sverige (@EurosportSE) July 11, 2018