German youngster Phil Bauhaus won a bunch sprint ahead of stunned French duo Arnaud Demare and Bryan Coquard in the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine at Macon on Thursday.
The flat stage precedes three days in the mountains where the form of Tour de France favourites Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Richie Porte will be scrutinised on some iconic climbs.
Belgium’s Thomas De Gendt of Lotto retains the overall lead ahead of Porte and Alejandro Valverde with Froome and Contador both close behind.
The 22-year-old Bauhaus got his nose ahead after a long, nervous last 2km with the peloton bunched.
“I had a good shot at a stage win on Monday, I felt good and had two teammates leading me in,” he said.
It was the biggest win so far for Bauhaus who looks set to follow a long list of German sprinting stars such as Andre Greipel, Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb.
“To be compared to them I’ll have to win a lot more,” said Bauhaus who lives near Greipel and often trains alongside him.
De Gendt, who has held the yellow jersey since day one, expects to lose his lead.
“It will probably be over for me but you never know,” said the Belgian rider who has just a 27sec lead on Porte.
“I think he’s the best climber in the world now,” said French rider Romain Bardet of Porte as the climbers now prepare to make up lost time from Wednesday’s time-trial.
Defending champion Froome is just 1min 04sec behind the leader heading into Friday’s stage which features the beyond category Mont du Chat climb, which will also be on the Tour de France, where the finish line is at the end of a treacherous descent to the bottom of the mountain. – Agence France-Presse
