Lutsenko Slams Paris-Nice

Mar 11, 2016 – Kazakh rider Alexei Lutsenko came home alone to win the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race on Friday as Australian Michael Matthews held onto the lead with two days to go.

AFP/James Startt

Astana’s Lutsenko broke away from the peloton 28km from the line to cross 21 seconds ahead of the pursuing pack led by Norway’s Alexander Kristoff ahead of Matthews. The mythical Mont Ventoux, with a climb two-thirds of the way up to Chalet Reynard in the first part of the race, did not decide the 198km stage.

Canadian Antoine Duchesne, among an early breakaway group, shook off his rivals 41km from the line but was caught and overtaken by former world junior champion Lutsenko, 23, in the final 20km.

Orica-GreenEdge rider Matthews remains in the leader’s yellow jersey after finishing in third place, with Lutsenko 6sec behind in the overall standings. Saturday’s penultimate stage, the toughest of the week, will cover 177km between Nice and Madonne d’Utelle, taking in seven climbs, with a summit finish after a final 15.3km climb.

Highlights Stage 5

Résumé – Étape 5 (Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux… by tourdefrance

Results Stage 5:
1. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 5:00:26
2. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 0:00:21
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
4. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre – Merida
5. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
6. Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step
7. Vicente Reynes (Spa) IAM Cycling
8. Leonardo Duque (Col) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
9. Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM Cycling
10. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits

General Classification:
1. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 19:24:58
2. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:00:06
3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:00:18
4. Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:00:23
5. Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team
6. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
7. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team 0:00:28
8. Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling 0:00:29
9. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team 0:00:31
10. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team

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