Dan Martin has climbed his way to 2nd on stage 5 of the Tour de France; dropping all the big favourites.
Dan Martin outguns Tour de France biggest stars
Dan Martin has edged closer to stage victory at the Tour de France, taking 2nd today to Fabio Aru (Astana).
It was the second day Martin looked among the very best of the general classification challengers on a climbing stage finish.
Dan Martin had taken 3rd place of course on Monday behind Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) and Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb).
Today at the end of the 160.5km stage from Vittel to La Planche des Belles Filles, Aru was in a class of his own.
He took like flight on the 4km climb to the finish and won it well; never faltering from the moment he jumped with 2km remaining.
Aru wins the stage after a really top class ride up the final climb.
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But as the select group behind split to pieces, it was the distinctive figure of Dan Martin dancing off the front right at the end.
He never got close to Aru; coming home a full 16 seconds behind the Italian champion.
Nicolas Roche finished in 13th place today; an indication of his excellent condition.
He was just 1:05 down on the stage winner despite Trojan work for team leader Richie Porte.
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But behind Dan Martin in the runner-up position there were gaps everywhere.
And just has he stole 6 seconds on his rivals for the yellow jersey two days ago, so too he took time today.
Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Richie Porte (BMC Racing) were 3rd and 4th on the stage; both four seconds down on Martin.
A further four seconds down came Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and two more seconds back the road came another big trio.
Simon Yates (Orica-Scott), Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) and Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) filled places 6th through 8th 10 seconds down on Martin.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was next; 18 seconds down on Dan Martin.
The yellow jersey Geraint Thomas (team Sky) was in 10th place; 40 seconds down on Aru and 24 down on Martin. Thomas lost the race lead to team mate Froome.
Dan Martin, who is on fire so far in this Tour, is now up to 4h overall, just 25 seconds down on Froome.
More to follow.
Stage 5: Vittel to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km)
1 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 3:44:06
2 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:16
3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:20
4 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team
5 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:24
6 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:00:26
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac
8 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:34
10 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:40
11 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates
12 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe
13 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team 0:01:05
14 George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:01:07
15 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky
16 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
17 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:10
18 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data
19 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty - Groupe Gobert 0:01:13
20 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team
General Classification
1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 18:38:59
2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:12
3 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:14
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:25
5 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:39
6 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:00:43
7 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:47
8 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:52
9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:54
10 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:01
11 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac
12 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:07
13 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:24
14 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:29
15 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
16 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:47
17 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:01:51
18 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:01:56
19 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Drapac 0:01:57
20 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data 0:02:00
21 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team 0:02:14
22 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty - Groupe Gobert 0:02:27
23 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:02:30
24 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky 0:02:32
25 George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:02:34
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