Criterium du Dauphine 2012 stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
French cycling got its stage win at the Crit
é
rium du Dauphiné thanks to Arthur Vichot's solo effort on stage five.
True to his team's attacking credentials, the FDJ-BigMat rider broke clear from the day's break with 6km left to race and time-trialled his way along the flat finish into Rumilly.
Despite a brief scare when Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) gained 35 seconds on the descent of the day's main climb, the Grand Colombier, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) safeguarded his race lead by finishing alongside his main rivals in the bunch.
Although well earned, Vichot's win was a somewhat underwhelming end to a stage that had looked capable of shaking up the general classification.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The riders knew the stage and its 40km flat run in to the line represented the best chance for a break to succeed and it took a fast hour's racing before a group of Vichot, Dmitri Fofonov (Astana), Alberto Losada (Katusha), Cayetano Sarmiento (Liquigas-Cannondale), Remy Di Gregorio (Cofidis), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Daniel Navarro (Saxo Bank), Fabrice Jeandesbosz (Saur-Sojasun) and Maxime Mederel (Saur-Sojasun) got clear.
Meanwhile, after his disappointing performance in stage four's time-trial, Evans and three BMC team-mates threatened to make amends after they forged clear on the descent of the hors categorie Grand Colombier accompanied by, amongst others, Nibali.
The climb will make its Tour de France debut on stage ten of this year's race and its passage in the Dauphiné proved to be a good trial run for Wiggins and his Sky domestiques, most of whom look likely to accompany him in July.
Edvald Boassan Hagen, who initially found himself up the road with Evans, was ordered to drop back and help the Sky train of Richie Porte, Chris Froome and Michael Rogers drag Wiggins up to the Australian.
As if it were needed, Wiggins put on another show of strength when he launched himself clear of the bunch to solo the final few hundred metres to Evans. Gap closed, and point made.
With the GC threats neutralised, the Sky-led bunch were content to let the breakaway bicker amongst themselves for the spoils of the stage with Vichot coming out on top.
Wiggins's first true mountain test awaits tomorrow with stage six cramming in six categorised climbs, including the first category Col de la Colombière and the summit finish on the hors categorie Col du Joux Plane.
Results
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012, stage five: Saint Trivier sur Moignans - Rumilly, 187km
1. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-BigMat in 4-42-1
2. Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 26 secs
3. Dmitri Fofonov (Kaz) Astana
4. Remy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis
5. Cayetano Sarmiento (Col) Liquigas-Cannondale
6. Alberto Losada (Spa) Katusha
7. Daniel Navarro (Spa) Saxo Bank
8. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at same time
9. Maxime Bouet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale) at 46 secs
10. Bruno Pires (Por) Saxo Bank at same time
General classification after stage five
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky in 18-54-23
2. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep at 38 secs
3. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky at 1-20
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 1-44
5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank at 1-45
6. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at 1-48
7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank at 2-02
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Lotto-Belisol at 2-22
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana at 2-42
10. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 2-55
Bradley Wiggins and Michael Rogers
Cadel Evans attacks
Edvald Boasson Hagen chases
Cayetano Sarmiento in escape group
Arthur Vichot celebrates his stage win
Bradley Wiggins keeps hold of the race lead before a weekend of mountains
Related links
The all-time list of British pro winners
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Latest news
Wiggins' Dauphiné time trial clothing dilemma
Live text coverage: Critérium du Dauphiné stage four time trial
Bruyneel disappointed with RadioShack's lack of results
Wiggins on Dauphiné: 'I've come here to race'
Wiggins happy with second in Dauphiné prologue
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: The Big Preview - includes team list, TV guide, recent winners and more
Wiggins back to defend Critérium du Dauphiné title
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Stage reports
Stage four: Wiggins blitzes Dauphine time trial
Stage three: Boasson Hagen blasts to stage win
Stage two: Moreno wins second stage in Dauphiné hill-top sprint
Stage one: Evans wins as Wiggins takes lead
Prologue: Wiggins second behind Durbridge
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Photo galleries
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Prologue photo gallery
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
