Photo gallery: 2017 Tour de France, Stage 5
A solitary Aru danced his way through a tunnel of sound as he approached the summit of La Planche des Belles Filles.
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.
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- The start village bustled with activity prior to stage start.
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- Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott) took a moment for conversation at the start of Stage 5.
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- Pre-race rituals differ for the individual. This Trek-Segafredo rider took some personal time for a stretch.
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- 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.
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- Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) and Bakelants gave it one final dig on the initial slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles.
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- Fabio Aru looked back to check the distance to his rivals on Stage 5’s summit finish on La Planche des Belles Filles.
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- A solitary Aru danced his way through a tunnel of sound as he approached the summit of La Planche des Belles Filles.
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- With each pedal stroke, Fabio Aru distanced his rivals.
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- The summit of La Planche des Belles Filles offered a beautiful view to spectators.
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- With a fist to the sky, Italian Fabio Aru took his first Tour de France victory atop la Planche des Belles Filles.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) grimaces with the pain that brought him a fifth place on the stage.
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- Richie Porte (BMC) finished in fourth, 39 seconds down from Aru. He now takes the fifth spot in the GC.
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- Jacob Fuglsang dug deep on the 20% finishing section of La Planche des Belles Filles.
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- After two days in polka-dots, Nate Brown (Cannondale-Drapac) succumbed the jersey to stage winner Fabio Aru.
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- French icon Thomas Voeckler of Direct Energie rode in the day’s breakaway and stayed away until the low slopes of the final ascent.
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- Romain Bardet and Ag2r La Mondiale teammates Pierre Latour and Alexis Vuillermoz cooled down in the shade of their team bus.
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- A slightly more traditional method of cooling down post-stage for German champion Marcus Burghardt of Bora-Hansgrohe.
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- A familiar sight: Chris Froome (Team Sky) in the maillot jaune of the Tour de France.
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- Stage winner Fabio Aru of Team Astana took the polka-dot jersey along with his first Tour de France stage victory.
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- Simon Yates’ sixth-place finish atop La Planche des Belles Filles awards the Orica-Scott rider the white jersey.
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- A quick “shower” prior to the transfer home.
