Jai Hindley of Australia emerged victorious in an impressive display of strength during stage five of the Tour de France, seizing the coveted yellow jersey from the previous leader, Jonas Vingegaard. This victory dealt a blow to the hopes of Tadej Pogacar, the two-time defending champion aiming for a third triumph in the prestigious cycling race.
Hindley rode solo to triumph after launching an attack 20km before the finish line on the 162.7km route from Pau to Laruns. Crossing the line 32 seconds behind Hindley were Giulio Ciccone, Felix Gall, and Hindley’s Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Emanuel Buchmann.
However, the standout performance came from Vingegaard, who finished a remarkable 64 seconds ahead of Pogacar. The Danish cyclist, capitalizing on the demanding gradient of the final climb up the Col de Marie Blanque, gained almost two minutes of time, surpassing the likes of Ciccone and Buchmann.
Vingegaard’s outstanding display on the first mountain stage of this year’s Tour raises doubts about Pogacar’s ability to mount a comeback in the remaining stages of the race. Pogacar, who suffered a wrist injury in April and had been off the road for a significant period, finished alongside Britain’s Adam Yates, relinquishing the yellow jersey he had held since the opening stage.
For Hindley, it was an exceptional day that showcased his potential as a formidable competitor. Having claimed victory in the Giro d’Italia just over a year ago, Hindley is making his Tour de France debut. His improvised strategy allowed him to join an early 36-man breakaway, solidifying his position as a contender in the general classification race.
Reflecting on his achievement, Hindley expressed his elation, stating, “It is really incredible, and I have no words for wearing the yellow jersey. […] 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.”
The race’s next stage on Thursday will feature the iconic Col du Tourmalet, as cyclists tackle a challenging 114.9km route from Tarbes to Cauterets, further testing their stamina and determination.
