Eneco Tour Stage 5: Breakaway Makes it to the Finish in Poor Weather

Eneco Tour Stage 5: Breakaway Makes it to the Finish in Poor Weather

Etixx - Quick-Step rider Julian Alaphilippe finished 13th in a 179.6km stage characterized by poor weather, including torrential downpours, and a parcours with 23 climbs along the parcours. 

A two-rider breakaway of Johan Le Bon (FDJ.fr) and Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin), who maintained a 59" advantage with 7.7km to go, when a chase group formed behind Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal), who remained off the front after another chase group failed to get much of a gap. He then went ahead with about three other riders, but the cooperatiion between the group was lacking in the final kilometers. The gap was down to 17" with 2.4km remaining, but it was still enough for the duo to decide the stage as the chasers were not far behind.

Le Bon went on the attack and held off Van Baarle for the victory. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica-GreenEDGE) finished 3rd. Alaphilippe passed 13th in the peloton behind the chasers, which was 27" down from Le Bon.

Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to another key stage on Saturday. The 6th stage, 208.6km from Heerlen to Houffalize, is another up-and-down affair, as the peloton will pass 18 climbs.