A solitary Aru danced his way through a tunnel of sound as he approached the summit of La Planche des Belles Filles.
Photo gallery: 2017 Tour de France, Stage 5
Italian national champion Fabio Aru (Astana) took the summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles on Stage 5 of the Tour de France Wednesday, attacking out of a select group of 15 on the upper slopes of the six-kilometer ascent.
Irishman Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) was second across the line, with defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) 20 seconds back from Aru in third, vaulting the three-time winner into yellow.
The day’s breakaway rolled early as per usual, within the first five kilometers of the race, consisting of eight riders: Jan Bakelants (Ag2r La Mondiale), Mickael Delage (FDJ), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Dylan van Baarle (Cannonale-Drapac), Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie), Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).
On the lower slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles, Sky lieutenants Michal Kwiatkowski, Mikel Nieve, and Sergio Henao set a vicious pace that quickly reeled in the remainder of the breakaway, and with four kilometers remaining, the race was one for the GC men. The pace quickly created a select group.
At 2.5 kilometers out, Aru challenged the composed steadiness of the Sky train with a vicious solo attempt. Aru rose from the saddle and seemed to perpetually accelerate up the climb, even as the gradient rose over 20%. Arms aloft, he crossed the line with 16 seconds over Martin, who put in an impressive final dig to overcome Froome, four seconds back.
- The start village bustled with activity prior to stage start.
- Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott) took a moment for conversation at the start of Stage 5.
- Pre-race rituals differ for the individual. This Trek-Segafredo rider took some personal time for a stretch.
- The breakaway, led by Jan Bakelants (Ag2r La Mondiale), was only able to gain 3:30 on the field before ultimately getting reeled in after a unrelenting chase by BMC.
- Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) and Bakelants gave it one final dig on the initial slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles.
- Fabio Aru looked back to check the distance to his rivals on Stage 5’s summit finish on La Planche des Belles Filles.
- A solitary Aru danced his way through a tunnel of sound as he approached the summit of La Planche des Belles Filles.
- With each pedal stroke, Fabio Aru distanced his rivals.
- The summit of La Planche des Belles Filles offered a beautiful view to spectators.
- With a fist to the sky, Italian Fabio Aru took his first Tour de France victory atop la Planche des Belles Filles.
- Chris Froome (Sky), prior to his pre-acceleration that distanced Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Richie Porte of BMC was able to stay with the Briton, however, not conceding any time in the GC.
- Earlier in the race, Daniel Martin (Quick Step Floors) dropped Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team) on La Planche des Belles Filles.
- Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) grimaces with the pain that brought him a fifth place on the stage.
- Richie Porte (BMC) finished in fourth, 39 seconds down from Aru. He now takes the fifth spot in the GC.
- Jacob Fuglsang dug deep on the 20% finishing section of La Planche des Belles Filles.
- After two days in polka-dots, Nate Brown (Cannondale-Drapac) succumbed the jersey to stage winner Fabio Aru.
- French icon Thomas Voeckler of Direct Energie rode in the day’s breakaway and stayed away until the low slopes of the final ascent.
- Romain Bardet and Ag2r La Mondiale teammates Pierre Latour and Alexis Vuillermoz cooled down in the shade of their team bus.
- A slightly more traditional method of cooling down post-stage for German champion Marcus Burghardt of Bora-Hansgrohe.
- A familiar sight: Chris Froome (Team Sky) in the maillot jaune of the Tour de France.
- Stage winner Fabio Aru of Team Astana took the polka-dot jersey along with his first Tour de France stage victory.
- Simon Yates’ sixth-place finish atop La Planche des Belles Filles awards the Orica-Scott rider the white jersey.
- A quick “shower” prior to the transfer home.