Alexey Lutsenko of the Astana team enjoyed an impressive solo victory on stage five of the Paris-Nice race on Friday. The 198 kilometre ride to
ADVERTISEMENTAlexey Lutsenko of the Astana team enjoyed an impressive solo victory on stage five of the Paris-Nice race on Friday.
The 198 kilometre ride to Salon-de-Provence featured five categorised climbs, including the category 1 Mont Ventoux although not to the very top.
Eight riders jumped clear in the first 30km and built up a sizeable gap as the peloton looked content to let them go.
But the grueling climbs of the day took their toll and the front bunch started to splinter.
Antoine Duchesne made a solo break with some 30 kilometres to go.
But behind Lutsenko, a former U23 world champion, and current Kazakhstan time trial champion, had burst out of the chasing group and caught up with the young Canadian.
Soon after, Duchesne appeared to be going backwards as Lutsenko powered out in front for the win which lifted him to second overall six seconds behind Australian Michael Matthews who was third on the day.
Norway’s Alexander Kristoff was the stage runner-up.