Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Stage 5 - Spilak makes it 2 in a row for Katusha

Simon Spilak won the 5th stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and the 2nd in a row for Katusha after Trofimovs victory yesterday. Chris Froome remains in the lead but had to work hard for it today after attacks from both Alberto Contador and Wilco Kelderman. (Slideshow route/profile)

Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Results 5th stage

1. Simon Spilak (slo)
2. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 0.14
3. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
4. Daryl Impey (SAf) + 0.17
5. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t
6. Daniel Moreno (spa) s.t
7. Tanel Kangert (est) s.t.
8. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.
9. Arthur Vichot (fra) s.t.
10. Leopold König (Cze) s.t.

GC after 5th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.12
3. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) s.t.
4. Andrew Talansky (USA) + 0.33
5. Jurgen van den Broek (bel) + 0.35
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.50
7. Haimar Zubeldia (spa) + 1.22
8. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t
9. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.24
10. Tanel Kangert (est) + 1.35

Race report
At Col de Manse the race open up. A break away of nine is injected with new blood and the leaders are De Marchi, Caruso, Impey, Kadri, Denifl, Atapuma, Silin, Spilak, Devenyns, Huzarski, Gautier, Bakelants, Le Mével, Chérel, De Clercq and Vichot. Jens Voigt is trying to cross and the bunch lingers at around 3 minutes.

De Marchi is the first to crest Col de Manse, Côte du Motty, Côte du Pont-Haut and Col de Malissol and is the new Mountain leader.

Alberto Contador attacks in the descent to the closing climb and he takes 1’14” from Froome. But the Sky-machine, with a strong Richie Porte, closes the gap on the Côte de Laffrey, while higher on the mountain Simon Spilak breaks away from his companions. The man from Slovania – earlier strong in de Tour de Romandie – crests the top solo.

In the 16 flat kilometres to arrival town La Mure stays in the lead while the remains of the break away are swallowed by the smaal pack with GC riders. Spilak takes the stage win and in the closing kilometres a duo of young riders attack the established order. Wilco Kelderman and Adam Yates finish second and third and take seconds from Froome en Contador. In fact, taking bonifactions 23-year old Kelderman is exactly as close to Froome as Contador: 0’12”.