Stage 5: Gap>Privas
Unlike previous stages, there was no breakaway. The peloton rode as a solid group to the sprint point where Sam Bennett got first and officially took the lead in the Points competition from Peter Sagan who came in fourth.
It was an almost leisurely ride downhill to the two climbs, both taken by the polka dot jersey leader Benoit Cosnefroy.
The peloton approached the finish line for a bunch sprint at nearly 40 miles per hour, the sprint trains leading out their best hope at taking the stage. Wout Van Aert, who was the leadout man for yesterday’s stage winner, crossed first.
It seemed Julian Alaphilippe would keep his yellow jersey but was awarded a penalty for taking a water bottle from a team helper within the last 20km of the race. It is against the rules for a rider to take food or water with 20km left on a stage. The penalty knocked Alaphilippe down to 16th place and gave the race lead to Simon Yates.
