The fifth stage of the race saw a breakaway trio of van de Velde, Adegeest, and van Empel leading the pack, with the peloton chasing behind. The break built up a lead of up to 2’30”, with two category 4 climbs to come. Despite some sprinters in the pack, the break managed to maintain their advantage.
As the race progressed, the leading trio maintained their lead as the peloton navigated the French countryside. A few attacks were pulled back as they climbed the Cote de St-Pancre, with the break still holding a significant gap. The Queen of the Mountains result was won by Loes Adegeest, tightening the polka race standings.
The race saw riders like Marianne Vos changing bikes, and potential stage winners like Charlotte Kool falling behind. Movistar was looking to secure the stage for Emma Norsgaard, while concerns about Kristen Faulkner’s moves were also raised. The stage featured multiple climbs, with various riders vying for points in the mountain classification.
Despite limited TV coverage, the race continued with the breakaway trio maintaining their lead. The general classification standings remained tight, with Demi Vollering leading by only 22 seconds. With the race heading from Bastogne to Amneville, another breakaway or Dutch domination seemed likely as the stage unfolded.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com