The breakaway of the day consisted of Sylvain Chavanel, Jan Bakelants, Matthew Busche, Brice Feillu and Gorka Izagirre. The peloton, still seeing Chavanel as a danger man, didn’t let them get more than 2 minutes and reeled them in by the base of the final climb.
Numerous little digs followed on the final climb with Nibali having a dig with 400 metres to go but it was on the descent where a break eventually formed. Betancur attacked first and was followed by Fuglsang and Jungels. The gap hovered at 10 seconds as they went under the flamme rouge with Betancur proving strongest in the sprint, just ahead of an onrushing peloton.
Thomas retains his lead. Could this Paris-Nice come down to time bonuses? If the race is not seperated on the climbs, John Degenkolb must fancy his chances at the overall.
Paris-Nice 2014 Results 5th stage
1. Carlos Alberto Betancur (col)
2. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
3. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
4. Bryan Coquard + 0.02
5. Tom Boonen (bel) s.t.
6. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (SAf) s.t.
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
8. Greg van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
9. Borut Bozic (slo) s.t.
10.Marco Marcato (ita) s.t.
GC after 5th stage
1. Geraint Thomas (UK)
2. John Degenkolb (Ger) + 0.03
3. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Nld) + 0.04
4. Carlos Alberto Betancur (col) + 0.05
5. José Joaquin Rojas Gil (spa) + 0.08
6. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.13
7. Jan Bakelants (bel) s.t.
8. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 0.15
9. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) +0.19
10. Cyril Gautir (fra) s.t.
Paris-Nice 2014 stage 5: Images
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