Jan Polanc wins Giro d'Italia stage five, as Contador takes pink
23-year-old Slovenian took the biggest win of his career as Alberto Contador moved into race lead on the stage five summit finish
Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida) took an impressive solo victory on the summit finish to Abetone on stage five of the Giro d'Italia, as Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) took the maglia rosa by two seconds over Fabio Aru (Astana).
Polanc has been part of the day's main breakaway, which formed within the first 20km of the race.
The Slovenian was joined by Silvan Dillier (BMC), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Axel Domont (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Serghei Tvetcov (Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec), who together amassed a gap of over 10 minutes before the peloton began to turn things on and cut the time gap.
But the lead group managed to make it to the foot of the 17.3km mountain with over four minutes on the peloton, with an attack coming in the first 2km of the climb from Chavanel. Tvetcov was instantly dropped, but the Frenchman was unable to lose his other breakaway colleagues, and before too long, Polanc launched his attack with just over 10km to go.
There was little the others of the break could do and the 23-year-old was able to reach the finish with over a minute-and-a-half on the chasing GC contenders, whose battle had heated up behind, to take his first Grand Tour stage victory.
Astana, much like Tuesday's stage four, were the main instigators in turning up the pace on the final climb, with Tinkoff-Saxo attempting to match them. It meant, that the bunch began to split, with race leader Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge) suffering and unable to hold the pace.
It was Contador who attacked first, with around 4.5km to go on the climb, but his nearest rivals, Aru and Richie Porte (Team Sky) gave him no rope and stuck to the wheel of the Spaniard. Porte was next to try a move, befor Aru took his turn, but no-one was able to establish a clear gap on their fellow overall contenders.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Mikel Landa (Astana) managed to make his way from the main group behind over to his team leader Aru, and began to turn the screw to help drop Porte and Contador. In the end, the three rivals came into the finish together just behind Chavanel, with Aru crossing the line in third to take a six second time bonus, but Contador did enough to take the pink jersey.
The day's biggest loser was Rigoberto Uran (Etixx - Quick-Step), who after losing time on Tuesday, finished almost 30 seconds down on Contador on the day and now sits 1-22 down in GC.
Thursday's 183km stage six looks destined to end in a bunch sprint. With a category four climb within the first half of the race, there's a flat and fast finish which the sprinters will be relishing and the GC riders will look to navigate safely.
Giro d’Italia 2015, stage five: La Spezia to Abetone, 152km
1. Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida, in 4-09-18
2. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, at 1-31
3. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
4. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
5. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, all same time
6. Mikel Landa (Esp) Astana, at 1-44
7. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana, at 1-53
8. Yuri Trofimov (Rus) Katusha
9. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC
10. John Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC, all same time
Overall classification after stage five
1. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 2 seconds
3. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, at 20 seconds
4. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, at 22 seconds
5. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana, at 28 seconds
6. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, at 37 seconds
7. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar, at 56 seconds
8. Mikel Landa (Esp) Astana, at 1-01
9. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin, at 1-15
10. Andrey Amador (Crc) Movistar, at 1-18
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Tom Pidcock 'deselected' from Ineos Grenadiers squad for Il Lombardia
British rider says 'I guess off season starts early' in Instagram post
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Our relationship survived 800 km on 10 minutes of sleep — less hardy pairings would have quit
Hallucinations, crashes, and no sleep: Ultraracing couple share the secrets that keep them racing together
By Rob Kemp Published
-
'The chance is there': Tadej Pogačar builds World Championships form with dominant GP Montréal victory
Slovenian full of 'confidence and motivation' after winning final warm up race before Zurich
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Four months ago I was in the ICU': Jay Vine wins for the first time since suffering spinal fractures in Itzulia horror crash
Australian suffered serious injuries in the Itzulia Basque Country incident
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A UAE Emirates Tour de France podium clean sweep is a real possibility
Adam Yates, Tadej Pogačar and João Almeida are all hitting form at the perfect time with the Florence Grand Départ fast approaching
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Meet Vegard Stake Laengen, Tadej Pogačar's right-hand man at Grand Tours
The Norwegian bodyguard has been present in each of the Slovenian's Tour de France participations, and is now at the Giro d'Italia, too
By Adam Becket Published