Yauheni Hutarovich got his career at the Bretagne team off to a great start when he won today’s morning stage of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo. When the flat stage came down to the expected bunch sprint, the Belarusian beat Yohann Gene (Europcar) and Tim De Troyer (Wanty) while Rafaa Chtioui (Skydive Dubai) defended his overall lead ahead of the evening team time trial.

Yauheni Hutarovich was once regarded as one of the biggest sprint talents and he seemed to be destined for big things when he won a stage of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. Since he left FDJ to join Ag2r, however, his progress stalled and he disappeared into anonymity.

Last year he showed signs of a return to his former level, most notably when he took a WorldTour win at the Tour de Pologne, and this year he has signed a contract with the Bretagne team, hoping to get his career back on track. After a solid start in the Tour de San Luis and a second place behind his teammate Daniel McLay on stage 3, the Belarusian opened his account in today’s morning stage of Africa’s biggest race, Tropicale Amissa Bongo.

The 145km fifth stage was held on an almost completely flat course from Lambaréné to Kango and was always expected to come down to a mass sprint. There was almost no elevation gains along the way and with a flat finish, the fast finishers were licking their lips in anticipation.

As it is always the case in the Gabonese race, the riders took the start in beautiful sunny conditions and they got the stage off to a very fast start with lots of attacks. It took a long time for a break to get clear and no one seemed to get carte blanche to build and advantage.

A very dangerous and strong group with Anthony Delaplace, Daniel McLay (both Bretagne), Dan Craven (Europcar), Edgar Pinto (Skydive Dubai), Tesfom Okbamariam (Eritrea) and Tim De Troyer (Wanty) posed a threat when they build a 35-second gap after 50km of racing but at the 57km mark, that group was brought back. However, Delaplace regused to give up and he attacked again with Lander Seynaeve (Wanty), Bryan Nauleau (Europcar) and Metkel Eyob (Eritrea).

After 73km of racing, that group had a 20-second advantage but 15km later, the peloton had also neutralized that move. At that time, an unfortunate crash took Willie Smit (South Africa) out of the race.

At the 104km, the riders passed equator but that didn’t make any difference for the many attackers who were still unable to get clear. Finally, a break was established when Benit Jarrier (Bretagne), Jerome Baugnies (Wanty), Clovis Kamzong (Cameroun) and Nauleau attacked and with 30km to go, they were 20 seconds ahead.

So close to the finish, the peloton was unwilling to allow them much leeway and with 20km to go, they were still only 30 seconds ahead. With 12km to go, Kamzing attacked and only Jarrier was able to follow him while Baugnies was the first to get caught.

With 8km to go, Jarrier and Kamzong were still more than 20 seconds ahead but in the end, the chase got organized and it came back together for a bunch sprint. Here Hutarovich emerged as the fastest as he beat Yohann Gene and Tim De Troyer to take his first win for Bretagne.

Rafaa Chtioui (SkyDive Dubai) had an easy day in the saddle and comfortable defended his lead of 2.24 over Giovanni Bernaudeau (Europcar). He faces another solid test this evening when the riders will be back in the saddle for the flat 8.5km team time trial in Port Gentil.