Stage 5 proved to be the first real test for the overall classification in Poland and Lawson Craddock came out of the hilly 223km day in a respectable 30th place, losing just four minutes on a stage where the peloton exploded causing large time gaps all over.

The day’s breakaway was formed of six riders and once they had broken the elastic to the bunch they set about building an advantage of over six minutes, however with the GC favourites keen to stretch their legs the time gap soon started to tumble in the second half of the stage. With around 50km to race the bunch was all back together as it turned towards the tough final climbs of the day.

It was a race of attrition as groups slipped off the back of the peloton leaving a diminishing lead pack to battle for the stage. Craddock held on but it was cramps that were to put paid to his efforts and from there it was damage limitation as to avoid losing too much time to the leaders. He eventually came over the line 4’08” down on the stage winner, Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal) who broke away from the final group of 13 in the final eight kilometres to solo to the stage win and take the race lead with it.

“Today was the first tough GC day and we set out to support Lawson as much as possible in the early parts of the stage,” explained coach Addy Engels. “He hasn’t got too many mountain race days over 220km in his legs yet so this would be a tough test for him but he coped well and only came unstuck with cramps towards the end. After this point it was damage control but he did a good ride today, and the other guys rode well to look after him as planned too.”

Marcel Kittel still leads the points classification after making it home safely today. Another tough GC test lies ahead tomorrow over 174km, taking in eight classified climbs before the uphill stage finish.