Van Aert beats Bauhaus in sprint - Baudin retains the lead

Cyclist Wout Van Aert has claimed his second victory of the season on the fifth stage of the Tour Auvergne Rhone-Alpes. After 195.3 km, the 31-year-old Belgian from Team Visma-Lease a Bike won the mass sprint in the bird park of Villars-les-Dombes, a venue that had already hosted a Tour de France stage finish in 2016.

Behind Van Aert, Frenchman Hugo Hofstetter (NSN) finished second, while Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) from Bocholt crossed the line in third – his first top-three finish in a World Tour race this year.

Two months after his triumph at Paris-Roubaix, Van Aert showed the strongest legs in the field in the final sprint of a largely uneventful race. Frenchman Alex Baudin (EF Education-Easy Post) successfully defended the overall lead – likely for the last time, as three tough mountain stages follow from Friday onwards.

The opening act is a 182.3 km stage from Saint-Vulbas with a summit finish at Crest-Voland.

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar dominates Tour de Suisse

Tadej Pogačar crowned his impressive Swiss week with victory on the queen stage and claimed the overall classification.

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar edges Van der Poel by 31 hundredths in TT

Tadej Pogacar didn’t just win the stage – he even overhauled Richard Carapaz on the road, stretching his Tour de Suisse lead to over four minutes.

Pogacar cannot be beaten in the time trial either

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar takes a back seat – Narváez strikes with solo breakaway

The shock of fiancée Urska Zigart's crash and the focus on the Tour de France shaped Tadej Pogacar's strategy – his top domestique made the difference.

Cycling / Stage Race

Zigart’s heavy crash overshadows Pogacar’s Tour de Suisse dominance

Tadej Pogacar leads the field by nearly three minutes - but the day was defined by concern for Urska Zigart, hospitalized with a broken jaw.

Tadej Pogacar before the stage start on Thursday

Cycling / Stage Race

Show of force: Pogacar alone in a class of his own

Two and a half weeks before the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar showed at the Tour de Suisse why he is considered the clear favourite for overall victory in France.

Cycling / Stage Race

Del Toro claims Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes after Seixas abandons

The 22-year-old Mexican capped off a dominant final phase with a solo breakaway on the Plateau de Solaison—making a strong case for Tour de France selection.

Cycling / Stage Race

Del Toro wins on Grand Colombier – Seixas loses time

French cycling young star Paul Seixas fought his way back to the peloton after his crash, but lost valuable seconds on the final climb in the battle for the overall victory.

Cycling / Stage Race

Van Gils wins Stage 6 – Tuckwell in yellow

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe dominated Stage 6 of the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes: Maxim Van Gils claimed the stage win, while teammate Luke Tuckwell seized the overall lead.

Cycling / Stage Race

Next breakaway triumph: Simmons wins fourth stage

The US champion prevailed in a sprint from a breakaway group on the fourth stage – the peloton came too late.

Cycling / Stage Race

Visma dominates team time trial – Red Bull only fifth

In the team time trial at the Tour Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, Visma-Lease a Bike set the fastest time ahead of Netcompany Ineos. Alex Baudin defends the leader's jersey.

Cycling / Stage Race

Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes: Baudin wins, Seixas on track

The Frenchman celebrates his first World Tour triumph on the opening stage - and the overall victory contender loses no time in the standings.

In this article:

Van Aert beats Bauhaus in sprint – Baudin retains the lead