Wednesday 17 June 2015 17:26, UK
Thibaut Pinot claimed the overall lead at the Tour de Suisse thanks to victory in a gruelling stage five.
Pinot, riding for FDJ.fr, caught and passed long-time leader Stefan Denifl on the final climb of Rettenbachsferner and victory was enough to claim the yellow jersey, while Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas moved back into second, 47 seconds down.
Frenchman Pinot was dropped early on the climb but soon got back into the main group, which had already lost yellow jersey wearer Tom Dumoulin, who trailed in just over a minute and a half down.
Denifl (IAM Cycling) had been part of an early break that led by more than 10 minutes at one point, and it seemed he was on his way to a first professional victory when he dropped the rest of the breakaway riders.
But he was pedalling square inside the final five kilometres and lost time hand over fist as soon as Simon Spilak (Katusha) accelerated and Pinot followed.
Pinot went solo inside the final 2,000 metres and ended up winning the stage by 34 seconds from Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), who is making an encouraging return from a horrific crash at the Giro d’Italia last month.
Spilak took third and Thomas finished the stage, which took more than six hours to complete, in fifth place, 43 second behind Pinot.
Stage Five result:
1 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 6hrs 22mins 47secs
2 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale +34s
3 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha +37s
4 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana +43s
5 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Team Sky st
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana +1:15
7 Jan Hirt (Cze) CCC Sprandi Polkowice +1:18
8 Sergio Luis Henao (Col) Team Sky +1:29
9 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling +1:31
10 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin +1:37
Overall standings:
1 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 17hrs 42mins 01secs
2 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Team Sky +47s
3 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha +50s
4 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale +55s
5 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana +1:07
