Mattia Cattaneo remains on the podium going into the weekend.
An undulating stage was in store before the weekend, and despite the course lending itself to the fast men, many riders were keen on booking a place in the day-long breakaway. One of these was Rémi Cavagna, who instigated a move just ten kilometers into the day, only for the peloton to react and shut down the French Champion’s dangerous attack at the bottom of the first classified climb.
Over the top of this, four-man went clear and despite being allowed a maximum gap of just 2:30, they forced the bunch to work hard in order to bring them back, the catch being made an agonizingly 100 meters from the line in Chaintré – the small town located in the Saône-et-Loire department, which appeared for the first time at the race – where Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) took the victory.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s Mattia Cattaneo finished with the bunch and retained his second place on the general classification ahead of the hilly stage 6 to Gap, whose profile will be to the barouders’ liking.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
Mattia Cattaneo 
