The Australian cyclist Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) triumphed this Wednesday in the fifth stage of the Tour de France, disputed over 182 kilometers, in the mountains, between Pau and Laruns, after slipping into a great breakaway and launching himself to the finish line, to Position yourself as the new leader of the race.
After a break of up to 36 runners, the Australian took advantage of the movement of his team to join two companions in the breakaway and take advantage of his moment on the last ascent, to get the most out of his pace and leave alone for the win.
In an intense definition on the final stretch, the Italian Giulio Ciccone (Lidl – Trek) took second place and entered the top 3 of the general classification. Third came the Austrian Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team); while the best Latin American was the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez (UAE Team Emirates), who came in seventh position.
Among the favourites, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) left Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) behind on the ascent to Col de Marie Blanque, arriving one minute and 4 seconds ahead of the Slovenian, opening up a gap that could be crucial in what rest of the race
Hindley, 27, can be a solid leader. He has in his palmares nothing less than the 2022 Giro d’Italia title, and a second place in the 2020 Giro; He has arrived at the Tour in great shape, as demonstrated by the fourth place obtained a few weeks before in the Critérium Dauphiné, and he has the quality to face anyone.
At the moment, his yellow jersey is his, in his first Tour de France; Of course, neither he nor his team, BORA-Hansgrohe, will have an easy time defending him, given how Jonas Vingegaard is doing, who gave an exhibition, full of strength and ambition, on Wednesday.
Austrian rider Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team) unseated American Neilson Powless (EF EducationEasyPost) for the lead in the mountain prizes. He now has a total of 28 points, 11 points more than the Italian Giulio Ciccone (Lidl – Trek). The Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez (Ineos Greniers) was in fifth place with 15 points.
The French round will continue this Thursday, July 6, with the sixth fraction, designed over 144.9 kilometers between Tarbes and Cauterets-Cambasque and which includes one of cycling’s mythical climbs, the Col du Tourmalet (17 km at 7.4%).