Pogačar seventh and gains time on the cobbles at Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar closes the fifth stage of the Tour de France (Lille-Arenberg) in seventh place after 157 km and 11 sectors of cobblestones, a stage which took in much of the course of Paris-Roubaix.

The cobbles began at km 80 as the breakaway of 6 riders hit the first sector aggressively. Pogačar stayed at the front of the group, avoiding the many crashes that, together with punctures and mechanical problems, characterized today’ stage.

At 20 km from the finish, the Slovenian attacked together with Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo). The duo broke from the group, recovering more and more ground from the men in the break, without their pursuers being able to close the gap.

Stage victory played out in the final sprint among the fugitives of the day, with Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) taking the win.

The leader of UAE Team Emirates finished in seventh place, losing one position in the general classification, but gaining precious seconds on all his direct rivals.

Pogačar: “Today I feared all the things that didn’t happen to me in the end. The team supported me well in the first part of the stage, before the cobbled sectors, then I just tried to give my best by following Stuvyen and pushing on. It was a day in which we aimed to stay safe and defend ourselves, I also managed to get something out of it so I can only be positive about it ”.

Tomorrow the Slovenian will wear the white jersey as best young rider again. The sixth stage in and around the Ardennes, at 219.9 km, will have an uphill kick to the line.

Stage 5 results:
1.Simon Clarke (Isreal-Premier Tech) 3h13’35 ”
2.Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) s.t.
3.Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) +2 ”
7.Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +51 “

General classification after the 5th stage:
1.Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 16h17’22 ”
2.Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) + 13 ”
3.Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) +14 ”
4.Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +19″