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The French climber won alone this Friday. As for the Slovenian prodigy, he kept his first place in the general classification without trembling.
Tadej Pogacar remains leader in the general classification of the “race of the two seas”.
AFP
French climber Warren Barguil won the 5th stage of Tirreno-Adriatico alone, 155 km hilly between Sefro, in the Marches, in Fermo, near the Adriatic. A member of the 12-run breakaway that formed a hundred kilometers from the finish, the Breton attacked in two stages, first at 5 km and then another at the start of the final climb of Fermo , where Tadej Pogagar retained his blue jersey as leader.
Already at the front of the race the day before, “Wawa” was the strongest in the last three kilometers in roller coasters, including a first ramp of 800 meters displaying up to 21% of slope. He succeeds Slovak Peter Sagan, who won ahead of Thibaut Pinot at the same finish of the “race of the two seas” in 2017. This is his 7th victory but the first in the World Tour since 2017 and his lined with memorable stages in the Tour de France.
A decisive stage on Saturday
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar still dominates the general classification, almost unchanged despite a switch problem which could have cost Belgian Remco Evenepoel dearly.
The day was marked by 5 retirements, in particular that of the Ukrainian Mark Padun (EF Education First). The surprise winner of two stages of the last Dauphiné criterium was 92nd more than 16 minutes behind leader Tadej Pogacar before the start.
The Ecuadorian climber Richard Carapaz (Ineos), distanced the day before and affected by a “gastric infection” according to his team, as well as the French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa Samsic), “as a precaution”, did not start.
The queen stage on Saturday, offering two ascents of Monte Carpegna (6 km at 9.9% average slope) in the Apennines, will no doubt crown the winner before a final day promised to the sprinters.
(AFP)