Tour de Suisse 2018 Stage 5: Ulissi wins uphill sprint, Porte new leader

The 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse is the first test in the high mountains. One climb shortly after the start and two in the last 50 kilometres before a summit finish in Leukerbad. Diego Ulissi sprints to victory, while Richie Porte is the new overall leader, 20 seconds ahead of Wilco Kelderman. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2018 Tour de Suisse

1. Diego Ulissi (ita)
2. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
3. Tom-Jelte Slagter (nld) s.t.
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
5. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
6. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.
7. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
8. Richie Porte (aus) z.t
9. Sam Oomen (nld) s.t.
10. Bjorg Lambrecht (bel)

11. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
12. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
13. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
14. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
15. Mathias Frank (swi) s.t.
19. Mathias Frank (swi) + 0.14
21. Andrey Amador (crc)
27. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 1.24

GC after the 5th stage
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.20
3. Sam Oomen (nld) s.t.
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.21
5. Jack Haig (aus) + 0.29
6. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.33
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.36
8. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.40
9. Simon Spilak (slo) + 0.46
10. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.47

13. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.53
15. Bauke Mollema (nld) +.58
16. Mathias Frank (swi) + 1.07
19. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.18
21. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 1.24

Race report
Straight after the start the route climbs up the Col du Pillon. Despite several attacks the pack is still together at the top of the pass. The situation remains unchanged for quite a while until Dillier, Oss and Stuyven open up a gap after 60 kms. Ourselin, Warbasse and Smit bridge across and with six they race to a lead of 3 minutes.

On the climb to Montana Stuyven and Ourselin are distanced, while Warbasse goes solo. De La Parte, Fraile, Calmejane and Sicard jump clear in the peloton and head for the front of the race. Warbasse is first to crest, almost 2 minutes ahead of the first chasers with the pack 20 seconds another further behind.

Calmejane tracks down Warbasse on the early slopes of the last climb to push on alone, but the peloton brings him back with 7 kms left. Carthy and Bidard counter-attack straight away before Landa jumps across. Leader Küng is dropped.

Landa goes alone. For kilometres he rides some 20 seconds ahead of the main group before he is brought back in sight of the line. Ulissi opens up the sprint and holds off Mas and Slagter to pocket his first victory in 2018.

Porte moves into the overall lead, while the Sunweb-duo Kelderman/Oomen now sits in second and third, 20 seconds down on the Tasmanian.