Godon sprints to sixth

Dorian Godon battled to sixth in a tense, windy finale to stage five of Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes which came down to a bunch sprint. 

Following a stage that had failed to match the electric pace of the previous days, the pace ramped up in the final 20 kilometres as the bunch closed in on the early break.

As the sprint trains competed for space, the break was caught, which led to a drag race that saw Netcompany INEOS time a late move well.

Josh Tarling managed to weave through bunch and position Godon near the front with 500 metres to go, with the French national champion sprinting to sixth as Wout Van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike) came out on top. 

Kévin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley finished safely in the bunch to remain second and third overall ahead of a trio of GC tests which begin with Friday's summit finish to Crest-Voland. 

Reaction 

Dorian Godon 

“I was super happy to be racing where my parents live today on home roads and in all the villages I had been in before.

"We had as strong team, they believed in me and we gave it everything.”

"There was a bit too much wind at the end and I couldn’t do my best sprint, but now we focus on helping the GC guys in the mountains."