Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 5: Powersolo Bart De Clercq
Stage 5 leads from Nowy Sącz to Zakopane and in 223 kilometer it is the longest in this year's Tour de Pologne. En route the riders crest eight KOM-climbs and one might expect the likes of Aru to take control, but no, it is the smart Belgian Bart De Clercq who attacks with 5 kilometres left in the front group and he soloes to victory. While he is at it, he takes the leader's jersey also. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 6th stage Tour de Pologne
1. Bart De Clerq (bel)
2. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.03
3. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) s.t.
4. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.07
5. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
6. Davide Rebellin (ita) s.t.
7. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
8. Christophe Riblon (fra) s.t.
9. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
GC after stage 6
1. Bart De Clercq (bel)
2. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.04
3. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.06
4. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
5. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.09
6. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) z.t.
7. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.15
8. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.16
9. Christophe Riblon (fra) + 0.17
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
Race report
Once the flag is dropped, attacks are like gunfire. Groups of four, five, seven and even twenty don’t make it. It’s only when Valee, Berltan, Turgot, Bole, Breen and Boeckmans join forces the break of the day takes shapes and they race to an advantage of 6 minutes and there it lingers for a while, but entering the first of two laps the break enjoys a 4 minutes advantage and it keeps shrinking.
Boeckmans and Turgot get dropped, while Bole takes most KOM points at the first four climbs. Then the escapees are caught with the exception of Berltan, who is soloing upfront and takes the KOM points at climb #5. But eventually he is brought back also.
With 40 km’s left agroup a 42 riders leave the rest of the pack. All favourites are awake, except for Kwiatkowski. After another acceleration 14 riders are left upfront and despite an attack by Formolo and Aru the break is back together again with 9 km’s to go.
At 5 km’s left from the finish line Bartd De Clerq attacks and when Ulissi and Reichenback try to bridge the gap. Right attack at the right moment. Nice move and as a bonus De Clercq grabs the leader’s jersey.
Tour de Pologne 2015 stage 5: Route, profiles and more
Click on the images to zoom
Bart De Clercq
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Tour de Pologne 2015 Overview - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 7: Bialoblocki fastest in ITT, Izagirre takes overall - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 6: Sergio Henao soloes to yellow victory - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 4: Bodnar takes early break home, Zilinski leader - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 3: Pelucchi takes second, Kittel still leader - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 2: Pelucchi wins crash-marked sprint - Tour de Pologne 2015 Stage 1: Kittel is back! - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 1: Warsaw - Warsaw - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 2: Częstochowa - Dąbrowa Górnicza - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 3: Zawiercie - Katowice - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 4: Jaworzno - Nowy Sącz - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 6: Bukovina Terma Hotel Spa - Bukowina Tatrzańska - Tour de Pologne 2015 Route stage 7: ITT Kraków - Tour de Pologne 2015 More articles Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route ITT (m/w)
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Start list + times ITT – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Start list + times ITT – women
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route road race – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Riders road race – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route road race – women
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Riders road race – women
Clásica de San Sebastián 2024: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2024: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 1: Rotterdam - The Hague
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 2: Dordrecht - Rotterdam
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 3: Rotterdam ITT
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 4: Valkenburg - Liège
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 5: Bastogne - Amnéville
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 6: Remiremont - Morteau
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 7: Champagnole - Grand-Bornand
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 8: Grand-Bornand - Alpe d'Huez
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Vuelta 2024: Riders
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 1: Lisbon - Oeiras
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 2: Cascais - Ourém
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 3: Lousã - Castelo Branco
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 4: Plasencia - Pico Pitolero
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 5: Fuente del Maestre - Seville
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 6: Jerez de la Frontera - Yunquera
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 7: Archidona – Córdoba
Cycling Calendar 2024
Tour de France 2024: Withdrawals
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!