Stage five of the Paris-Nice, which was won by Carlos Betancur (AG2R-La Mondiale), has proved again what a great champion Sylvain Chavanel really is.  Dropped Wednesday on the climb of Mont Brouilly, having been handicapped by a mechanical shortly before, the IAM Cycling leader went out on the attack Thursday in France. 

 

His pride and class propelled him to spend more than 100 kilometer at the front in a four man breakaway, which was caught barely 20 kilometers from the finish line.  After having collected the polka dot jersey as the best climber in the race so far, the five-time time trial champion of France explained why he set off on his long journey today, while also taking the opportunity to congratulate Matteo Pelucchi who had just earned a magnificent victory with the IAM Cycling team racing at Tirreno-Adriatico. 

 

“I had the passion to show the team that I am still here, fighting.  The problem I had yesterday was an anomaly, only a minor setback.  I’ve never doubted in my career and today I was not going to let myself down by not fighting.  I am ready to shoot for a new target in the form of a stage victory.  This will require that I make some concessions perhaps in the next stages. There is plenty to accomplish here at the Paris-Nice and I will need to get rid of the bull’s-eye on my backside because being only a minute in arrears, I will not be allowed free reign.

 

"I didn't expect to be in the break today because I was only one minute down and I thought I was too close to the leaders. But I was not the best placed in the group actually. As a result the bunch decided on our fate, never leaving us more than two minutes or time to breathe. In spite of it all, I felt good in the front. I now feel like blowing up the race. That's my only chance  because in any case it's over for me overall."   

 

IAM Cycling directeur sportif Rubens Bertogliati stressed the exemplary attitude of his rider following the disappointment of Chvanel’s time loss on Tuesday, and also pointed to Stefan Denifl’s powerful attack on the final climb Wednesday. 

 

“Sylvain Chavanel felt free now to do as he pleased.  We never doubted his abilities and gave himself a free hand to do what he wanted to regain his status as a threat and as a leader, and to show his teammates that they could count on him.  Stefan Denifl, too, showed that his legs are going great.  His hesitation about whether to go with Betancur probably cost him the opportunity to sprint for a victory.”

 

You can read our preview of stage 6 here and follow our live coverage of the stage at 14.25 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.