Tour de France standings 2017: Fabio Aru takes Stage 5 with solo effort on Planche des Belles Filles

Fabio Aru broke free of an elite chase group with 2.5 kilometers remaining in the climb up to La Planche des Belles Filles on Wednesday. The winning effort on Stage 5 was the best of the Tour de France so far.

Chris Froome finished third on the stage, 20 seconds behind Aru, moving him into first place on the general classification and the yellow jersey. Richie Porte finished just behind Froome after his teammates spent much of the day pacing the peleton. The finish is an early blow to his Tour-winning hopes.

The stage began with a quality eight-man breakaway of Edvald Boassen Hagen, Philippe Gilbert, Thomas Voeckler, Thomas de Gendt, Jan Bakelants, Pierre-Luc Périchon, Dylan Van Baarle, and Mickaël Delage. De Gendt and Delage would fall off the back of it on the Category 3, côte d’Esmoulières, but the pack of stage hunters remained strong, cresting the climb with roughly 2:30 on the peloton, 45 kilometers before the finish.

BMC led the peloton throughout the day in a show that, even if primarily symbolic, indicated that they have no intention of backing down from Team Sky at the Tour.

The move was somewhat surprising — Stage 5 is pretty early to burn matches — but it made some sense. BMC can’t compete with Sky’s cadre of climbers, but it can grind out kilometers. And with the top two riders on the general classification, Sky is likely more relaxed about a breakaway than BMC. Richie Porte was 19th entering the stage, and needs to make up time on Chris Froome wherever he can because he will certainly lose time on the Stage 20 time trial in Marseille.

With 15 kilometers to go until the finish — 10k to the bottom of the final climb to La Plance des Belles Filles — Astana joined BMC at the front of the peloton, riding for Aru. At the same time, Philippe Gilbert and Jan Bakelants attacked from the breakaway — Gilbert no doubt with the yellow jersey in mind, sitting 30 seconds back of Geraint Thomas on the general classification.

Gilbert and Bakelants hit the final climb with about one minute on the peloton. By then, Sky had finally come to the front to take on pace-making duties, wary of BMC’s plans for Porte. They quickly closed the gap, catching Gilbert and Bakelants with four kilometers to the summit.

The peloton split on the La Planche’s steep slopes. Sky rode a strict pace, isolating about a dozen elite riders with them, including Aru, Porte, Nairo Quintana, Dan Martin, and Romain Bardet.

With 2.4 kilometers to go, Aru made his attack from the group. Froome led a counter move with Porte, Quintana, Martin, and Bardet. Quintana cracked, making it a quartet attempting to track down the Italian champion before the line.

They came close, but Aru was determined. Martin finished second. Froome finished third, edging Porte in what could be a significant psychological win.

Stage results:

1. Fabio Aru, Astana - 3h44’06”

2. Dan Martin, Quick-Step - +0:16

3. Chris Froome, Team Sky - +0:20

4. Richie Porte, BMC Racing - +0:20

5. Romain Bardet, AG2R La Mondiale - +0:24

6. Simon Yates, Orica-Scott - +0:26

7. Rigoberto Uran, Cannondale-Drapac - +0:26

8. Alberto Contador, Trek-Segafredo - +0:26

9. Nairo Quintana, Movistar - +0:34

10. Geraint Thomas, Team Sky - +0:40

General classification after Stage 5:

1. Chris Froome, Team Sky - 18h38’59”

2. Geraint Thomas, Team Sky - +0:12

3. Fabio Aru, Astana - +0:14

4. Daniel Martin, Quick-Step - +0:25

5. Richie Porte, BMC Racing - +0:39

6. Simon Yates, Orica-Scott +0:43

7. Romain Bardet, AG2R La Mondiale - +0:47

8. Alberto Contador, Trek-Segafredo - +0:52

9. Nairo Quintana, Movistar - +0:54

10. Rafal Majka, Bora-Hansgrohe - +1:01