Plancher-les-Mines, France: Fabio Aru emulated compatriot Vincenzo Nibali in winning the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday as reigning champion Chris Froome took over the race lead.
Italian Aru won the 160.5 km stage that finished on the La Planche des Belles Filles climb, where Nibali won three years ago before going on to claim Tour victory.
Froome came home third behind Ireland’s Dan Martin in second, and took over the yellow jersey from Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas.
Aru launced his attack with 2.4 km left and finished 16 seconds clear of Martin. With a 10-second time bonus on the line, he moved up to third overall, at just 14 seconds behind Froome. But more importantly, the 2015 Vuelta a Espana winner made a statement that he is a genuine challenger to end Froome’s Tour reign.
Briton Froome came home 20 seconds behind the winner, with Australia’s Richie Porte just behind him, but Colombian Nairo Quintana struggled and lost 14 seconds to Froome.
Last year’s runner up, Romain Bardet came home fifth at 24sec behind Aru, to now sit seventh overall at 47sec.
Thomas, who started the day 12 seconds clear, dropped to second at 12sec behind his team leader.
But at the end of the first mountain summit finish of this year’s race, the overall standings took on a familiar look as the overall contenders flexed their muscles for the first time.
The top 10 are now separated by one minute with all the big guns in there, including two-time former winner Alberto Contador, now eighth at 52sec. Porte moved up to fifth at 39sec, with Quintana ninth at 54sec. — AFP
Results from Tour de France (Vittel - La Planche des Belles Filles, 160.5 km) on Wednesday: 1. Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) 3:44:06”, 2. Daniel Martin (Ireland/Quick-Step) +16”, 3. Chris Froome (Britain/Team Sky) +20”, 4. Richie Porte (Australia/BMC Racing), 5. Romain Bardet (France/AG2R) +24”, 6. Simon Yates (Britain/Orica) +26”, 7. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Cannondale), 8. Alberto Contador (Spain/Trek), 9. Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) +34”, 10. Geraint Thomas (Britain/Team Sky) +40”
Classification after stage 5:
1. Chris Froome (Britain/Team Sky) 18:38:59”, 2. Geraint Thomas (Britain/Team Sky) +12”, 3. Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) +14”, 4. Daniel Martin (Ireland/Quick-Step) +25”, 5. Richie Porte (Australia/BMC Racing) +39”, 6. Simon Yates (Britain/Orica) +43”, 7. Romain Bardet (France/AG2R) +47”, 8. Alberto Contador (Spain/Trek) +52”, 9. Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) +54”, 10. Rafal Majka (Poland/BORA) +1:01”
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