PREVIEW | Criterium du Dauphine 2024 stage 5 - Remco Evenepoel's first day in yellow jersey one for the sprinters
Cycling
The Criterium du Dauphiné has had it's first key stage and in the time-trial, Remco Evenepoel took control of the race. His first day in the race lead should be a relatively calm one as it features the last opportunity for the sprinters. We preview stage 5.
The final opportunity of the race for the sprinters. But will it even be a day for the sprinters at all? Stage 5 is a tricky day with a few climbs that can put big questions in the peloton; but where the fast men will be motivated to perform as it is one of the only two possible sprinter days of the entire race.
Stage 5: Amplepuis - Saint-Priest, 199.2 kilometers
The start is indeed mostly flat, but the 199 kilometers through in a few obstacles. This comes in the form of a few false-flat ascents in the first half of the stage, but mainly the Côte de Duerne which is 5 kilometers long at 7%. It ends with 91 kilometers to go, and then the riders slowly descend until another ascent.
The Côte di Givors is then 3.8 kilometers at 4.6% and finishes with 56 kilometers to go. Rolling roads follow, but the final 35 kilometers are then easier to control. This does not mean they are fully flat however, another small climb finishes with 23 kilometers to go which is 1.8 kilometers long at 5.1% - in the right circumstances, it could be a launchpad for more attacks.
The final 20 kilometer then, can finally be termed flat. Into Saint-Priest however there is a technical finale. The final 1.8 kilometers actually are completely flat and straightforward, but right before them there is a very twisty section entering the city which could be beneficial for late attacks or a surviving breakaway.
Read also
The Weather
Map Critérium du Dauphiné 2024 stage 5
Some wind from the south, which will come as a cross-headwind throughout most of the day, not good for the breakaway. The last 35 kilometers will have a bit of a tailwind, but this won't be the case in the finishing straight.
The Favourites
Mads Pedersen - Winner of stage 1 and the strongest sprinter in the race apparently. It was a comfortable triumph with a good leadout. Lidl-Trek are an united team and they should do good on this day as they have good chances of winning. Whilst the sprint is flat, the day is hard and will benefit him.
Sam Bennett - The Irishman finished second on the first sprint but was distant from the win. I still do believe Bennett is packing some serious watts and can do well, and his climbing legs were also very good in Dunkerque. It's his final opportunity and Decathlon have good - but unexperienced - men to lead him out. Let's see if this time around it will improve.
A flat sprint, it won't benefit many of the fast men that are present in the race. I expect a strong performance from Emils Liepins, Clément Venturini... Whilst in only bunch sprint of the race we had Hugo Page, Owain Doull and and Michele Gazzoli do quite well.
Magnus Cort Nielsen, Davide De Pretto, Vito Braet, Ide Schelling, Milan Menten, Casper Pedersen, Jensen Plowright, Iván García Cortina and Fred Wright are other sprinters/classics riders with a good sprint that should aim for a result on this day. Yes, virtually thinking of the same riders as in the first stage. This is the second and final opportunity for the fast men to succeed.
Whilst the weather is not in favour of a breakaway, the hilly profile and tailwind finale do make it a possibility. I would consider such riders as a threat: Bruno Armirail, Dorian Godon, Nils Politt, Andreas Leknessund, Chris Juul-Jensen, Oier Lazkano, Andreas Kron and Jonas Rutsch.
Prediction Criterium du Dauphiné 2024 stage 5:
*** Mads Pedersen
** Sam Bennett, Hugo Page
* Emils Lipeins, Clement Venturini, Owain Doull, Michele Gazzoli, Milan Menten,
** Sam Bennett, Hugo Page
* Emils Lipeins, Clement Venturini, Owain Doull, Michele Gazzoli, Milan Menten,
Pick: Mads Pedersen
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment