Race Writeup

Katheryn Mattis (USA) created a win to claim the stage 5 victory, one minute ahead of Annemiek van Vleuten (Nederland Bloeit). Her teammate Liesbet de Vocht was third. 

The attacks started at the fist of the mountain climbs on the Col de Corsavy, the first of and most difficult climb of the stage. The GC leader Pooley (Cervelo Test Team), Mara Abbott (USA), Evelyn Stevens (HTC Columbia), Mattis, Trixi Worrack (Norris) and Caludia Häusler (Cervelo Test Team) were in the group. 

23 leaders managed to gather after the descent, Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherlands Bloiet) and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia) attacked the group and at Amélie-the-Baths had gained a 15 second lead. Sharon Laws (Cervelo Test Team), De Vocht and Mattis launched out to chase and caught the two on the climb as they exited the thermal spa. The group came back together on the decent. 

Mattis and Laws took the initiative and attacked again. With 67km of racing completed the two leaders were pursued by van Vleuten and De Vocht, on the Col Xatard. Mattis had attacked over the climb and left Laws. Laws was caught and passed by de Vocht and van Vleuten. The pair then worked to catch Mattis on teh decent. They caught and passed her with 12km to go. 

With 10km to go at the Pont de Reynes, an error on the course made by van Vleuten and De Vocht go wrong the wrong way. Mattis had gone the right way and therefore passed the pair without their knowledge and gained  53 seconds in advance. Mattis was awarded the win but in the total confusion of van Vleuten and of Vocht, raised arms, thinking they had gained the stage!

Cervélo Test Team's Emma Pooley (GBR) stays in the lead at the Tour de l'Aude, 2:49 ahead of today's stage winner Katheryn Mattis (USA) who is also currently second in the GC ranking. 

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Post Race Comments

Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team), who finished sixth today, on the fifth stage around Amélie les Bains. "Well, I didn't lose anything today so I am quite satisfied with the stage," said Pooley, post race. "It was a tough day and I hope we will have a bit easier day tomorrow before we start the queen stage on Friday." Not all went well today: Unfortunately Carla Ryan (Aus) crashed during the race and in doing so, lost her good position in the overall ranking."

Ryan is just returning to good form after a series of crashes in 2009 forced her to take some time off the bike. "Carla is okay and will be at the start line for the sixth stage tomorrow. From the profile, the stage does not seem like a tough one, but the wind can make it harder.  " added Pooley. 

Egon van Kessel, Sports Director Cervélo TestTeam  new the team could maintain the overall but did not think the stage would pan out as it did, "Honestly the race was not like we expected," said van Kessel. "The team had to work hard today. A lot of attacks were made. There was a break away with a couple of riders including Emma and Sharon Laws over the Col de Corsay, the first and hardest climb but the group around Marianne Vos came back and the race was open again. At the end, Katheryn Mattis won the stage solo. Emma finished in a good 6th position and stays in the yellow jersey." 

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

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General Classification Top 10 - click here to see full GC

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Photos   Click on any image to enlarge >>

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