Friday 08 June 2012 - 17:58

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 5: Martin Plays it Smart

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 5: Martin Plays it Smart

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Tony Martin knew exactly what to do with a group of riders up the road in the 186km Stage 5 of Critérium du Dauphiné.

Martin stayed near the front of the chasing peloton, sitting on the wheels of Sky ProCycling. Since Bradley Wiggins (Sky ProCycling) was in the leader's jersey, the peloton left it up to his team to pull back a group of 10 riders, which dwindled to 8 in the final kilometers.

Small chase groups formed in an attempt to shake up the GC, including one group with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) and Wiggins, who bridged by himself. However, none of the chase groups were organized enough to successfully bring back the break, or escape the bunch, for very long.

Arthur Vichot (FDJ-BigMat), meanwhile, saw an opportunity to go for the stage as the peloton was gaining ground on the remainder of the break. He attacked with 6km to go, and went on to win solo. Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) took 2nd in the chase group sprint, and Dimitriy Fofonov (Astana Pro Team) was 3rd.

Martin, tucked in safely near the front, finished 24th (+59"). He lost no time in the GC, remaining in 2nd, 38" back from Wiggins. The team will look to the 166km Stage 6 on Saturday to potentially go for the yellow jersey.

Sylvain Chavanel, who was in the top 10 in the GC going into the stage, was in difficulty on the HC Grand Colombier. The climb was 17.4km, with a 7.1% average gradient. It also was 12% in sections, with a max ramp of 16 percent.


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