Tour de France Stage 5: Fabio Aru wins, Chris Froome back in yellow

Astana’s Fabio Aru has won Stage 5 of the Tour de France at La Planche des Belles Filles, the first true summit finish of this year’s race as attention switched from the departures through injury of Mark Cavendish and disqualification of Peter Sagan to the battle for the overall victory.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, meanwhile, have swapped places at the top of the general classification, with the defending champion back in the yellow jersey.

It’s a quarter of a century since a Category 1 climb featured this early in the race, and nearly four decades since there was a summit finish on one, and this particular ascent has developed a reputation for being a strong indication of who will be there or thereabouts come Paris.

The climb made its debut in the 2012 Tour de France when Froome won on his way to finishing runner-up to team mate Bradley Wiggins, and was used again in 2014 when the stage went to that year’s eventual winner, Vincenzo Nibali.

Early on in the 160.5km stage from Vittel stage, an eight-man breakaway got clear, and what a group it was too packed with star names, including Philippe Gilbert of Quick-Step Floors, Direct Energie’s Thomas Voeckler and Dimension Data rider Edvald Boasson Hagen.

They were joined by AG2R-La Mondiale’s Jan Bakelants, Pierre-Luc Perichon of Fortuneo, FDJ’s Mickael Delage, Thomas De Gendt of Lotto Soudal and Cannondale-Drapac’s Dylan van Baarle.

Bakelants and Gilbert led the race onto the final, 5.9-kilometre climb having got away from their fellow escapees but the main group was closing fast with Team Sky now leading the chase after BMC Racing, working for Richie Porte, had forced the pace for most of the day.

With 2.4km remaining and the leading pair long caught, Aru attacked from the group led by the Team Sky trio of Mikel Nieve, Thomas and Froome.

> Tour Tech 2017: Fabio Aru’s stage 5 winning Argon 18 Gallium Pro

Lying 52 seconds off the race lead overnight, the Italian national champion quickly built a quarter of a minute’s advantage while behind him the overall contenders’ group was blown apart as Orica-Scott’s Simon Yates launched an attack with 2 kilometres to go.

Aru, who now lies third overall 14 seconds off the race lead, would not be caught, winning by 16 seconds from Quick Step Floors rider Dan Martin.

 Froome was a further 20 seconds back as he took the yellow jersey from Thomas, who drops to second overall, 12 seconds behind his team mate.

> Tour de France 2017 preview: Your stage-by-stage guide to cycling's biggest race