Dutch rider outsprints overall contenders as Annemiek Van Vleuten adds a little to race lead
Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) won the fifth stage of the Route de France between Luxeuil-les-Bains and Saint-Die-des-Vosges. Behind the 2006 World champion it took a photo finish to separate her teammate Annemiek Van Vleuten, in the race leader’s jersey, second place overall Judith Arndt (HTC-Columbia) and white, young riders’ jersey wearer Lizzie Armitstead.
The next group was led home by third place overall Olga Zabelinskaya (Safi-Pasta Zara) 3 seconds later, with the peloton split into a number of pieces by the stage’s late climbs.
As the race headed into the Vosges mountains, the first big attack of the day came from sprinter Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Columbia). The German was joined by Shara Gillow (Australia) and Beatrice Thomas (ESGL 93-GSD Gestion) but the three riders were caught before they could reach the top of the Col de Mon Repos, which topped out at 27.5km to go.
On the second and final climb, the Côte de Sauceray, with less than 10km to go Vos, Van Vleuten and teammate Loes Gunnewijk attacked. The three Nederland Bloeit riders managed to get away but were joined by Arndt and Armitstead before the top.
The five riders managed to stay clear of the peloton on the run to the finish, although Gunnewijk found herself dropped towards the end. Vos clearly too k the victory but the result was much closer between the other three.
With Van Vleuten taking second place she took 6 seconds bonus to Arndt’s 4 seconds, extending her lead over the German to 3 seconds.
Tomorrow’s sixth and final stage will cover 118km between Saint-Die-des-Vosges and Vittel. With the overall classification as close as it is, fireworks are almost inevitable.
Result stage 5
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
3. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Columbia
4. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Cervélo TestTeam
5. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara @ 3s
6. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Team Valdarno
7. Fröydis Waersted (Nor) Hitec Products UCK
8. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu
9. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
10. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara @ 19s
Standings after stage 5
1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Columbia @ 3s
3. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara @ 16s
4. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 50s
5. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Cervélo TestTeam @ 58s