Leopolod König survived the fierce battle between the GC riders in yesterday's very fast fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné and remains within striking distance of an overall top 10. On a good day for NetApp-Endura, Bartosz Huzarski was one of the strongest in the early break from which eventual winner Simon Spilak emerged.

The fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné in France yesterday took the peloton from Sisteron to La Mure, covering 184 kilometers. Slovenian rider Simon Spilak (Katusha) claimed victory for the stage as a soloist, giving his team its second win of the day in a row. He beat out Wilco Keldermann (Belkin) and Adam Yates (Orica – GreenEdge), who emerged from a pursuing group shortly before the finish line. Leo König and Bartosz Huzarski demonstrated fighting spirit, crossing the finish line with the group of favorites. König finished in the top 10, moving up into 14th place overall as a result.

“Of course, after not making it into the group yesterday, we wanted to be part of a bigger group today. Seventeen riders managed to pull away on the first climb, and Bartosz was one of them. Unfortunately, that group also included other riders who weren’t so far behind in the general classification, and therefore Sky didn't let them get more than three minutes ahead. The race among the chase riders became extremely fast going into the last climb. But Leo managed to keep pace with the favorites, so we had two riders in the first group in the final part of the race. It was a very strong stage for the two of them, and that’s why we’re absolutely satisfied,” says Enrico Poitschke, Sport Director for Team NetApp – Endura.

The peloton defended itself against a breakaway group for a long time today. After the fast-paced start and a crash, the first group took shape only after an hour into the race. Other riders tried to join up with them on the first climb, which meant that there were then 17 riders in the lead group. NetApp – Endura’s Bartosz Huzarski was among them. Many riders were unable to keep up with the fast pace of the chase riders on the last climb, so that a very select group of favorites, including Leo König, finally caught up with the lead group. Prior to this, the eventual winner of the day had already launched an attack from the lead group, and as a solo rider he maintained his lead of 14 seconds right until the end.

The sixth stage will once again pose opportunities for sprinters before going into the difficult final weekend.  The riders will have to complete a hilly, 168-kilometer course from Grenoble to Poisy. The day’s three mountain classifications are category four climbs. Two kilometers before the finish, a ramp with a 15% incline could break up the field even more.