Tour de France: Jai Hindley wins stage five to take yellow jersey
- Published
Jai Hindley has won a stage at the Tour de France for the first time in his career
Jai Hindley won stage five to take the yellow jersey as Jonas Vingegaard dented Tadej Pogacar's hopes of a third Tour de France triumph.
Australia's Hindley soloed to victory after attacking 20km from the finish of the 162.7km route from Pau to Laruns.
Giulio Ciccone, Felix Gall and Hindley's Bora-hansgrohe team-mate Emanuel Buchmann all crossed the line 32 seconds back.
However, Vingegaard was the big winner finishing 64 seconds ahead of Pogacar.
Denmark's defending champion rode clear of the Slovenian as the gradient ramped up into double figures on the final climb up the Col de Marie Blanque and made up almost two minutes of time to catch and initially pass the likes of Ciccone and Buchmann.
It was a superb show of strength from Vingegaard on the first mountain stage of this year's Tour and it leaves huge question marks over Pogacar's ability to fight back over the remainder of the race.
Pogacar, who broke his wrist in April and arrived at this year's Tour having spent a significant period off the road, came home in a group containing Britain's Adam Yates, who relinquished the yellow jersey he has held since the opening stage.
Hindley's improvised plan marks him out as contender
It also proved to be a superb day for Hindley, who won the Giro d'Italia just over 12 months ago and is making his debut in the Tour de France.
He becomes the eighth Australian to take the yellow jersey and was able to slip out into an early 36-man breakaway before pressing his credentials as a contender in the general classification race.
"We were sort of improvising and enjoying some bike racing. I just sort of managed to find myself in that group and I enjoyed it today," Hindley said.
"It is really incredible and I have no words [to wearing the yellow jersey].
"The guys on the radio were just screaming to ride to the line. I couldn't hear what was happening. I was trying to gain as much time as possible and get the stage win and I find myself in the yellow jersey.
"I didn't know what to expect. It is my first Tour, it is hard to come here with massive ambitions but I wanted to be competitive and have some form of success and I have just won a stage of the Tour de France. It is pretty incredible."
On Thursday the race takes in the iconic Col du Tourmalet in another mountainous 114.9km route from Tarbes to Cauterets.
Stage five results
1. Jai Hindley (Aus/Bora-Hansgrohe) 3hrs 57mins 07secs
2. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +32secs
3. Felix Gall (Aut/AG2R-Citroen Team) Same time
4. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe)
5. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) +34secs
6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +1min 38secs
7. Daniel Martinez (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time
8. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates)
9. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)
10. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers)
General classification after stage five
1. Jai Hindley (Aus/Bora-Hansgrohe) 22hrs 15mins 12secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) +47secs
3. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +1min 03secs
4. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 11secs
5. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) +1min 34secs
6. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +1min 40secs
7. Simon Yates (GB/Team Jayco-AlUla) Same time
8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +1min 56 secs
9. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time
10. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)