The high mountains were featured prominently on the fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné on Thursday and another new leader emerged at the end of a difficult day of climbing. Today riders had a chance to recon future 17th stage of this year edition Tour de France, which will be held on the same route.

BMC’s Tejay van Garderen took the yellow jersey to lead by 22-seconds to Benat Intxausti (Movistar) and 20-seconds to today’s stage winner Romain Bardet. For Team Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez, who finished 12th, it was a day to test his level of fitness.

"Today was a test for many of the riders, including Joaquim Rodriguez. In five weeks this will be the stage in the Tour. I think his condition is where it needs to be at this stage of the game. He was always with the first group and the first riders until 1 km to go, so he still needs that acceleration and that’s what will come in his training in the three weeks before the Tour starts.  I’m not worried about his condition. He’s happy with where he is also. This is his first race after the Ardennes classics," said team director José Azevedo.

"Tiago Machado was also riding well today. He was coming to the group on the descent when he hit some gravel on the side of the road and crashed but he’s ok. He lost contact with the group then so that’s why we didn’t see him in the front at the end. This is a very technical and tricky downhill. In the Tour it will be even faster than today and more than likely a crucial stage."

Joaquim Rodriguez currently holds 17th place on the general classification. 

Frenchman Bardet went over the top of the Col d’Allos in first place, holding time to the remains of the main field led by Sky. On the tricky descent Bardet continued to gain time while Sky and BMC chased behind. When Bardet hit the final climb of Pra Loup, he held 1.24 and managed to hold on to much of that lead to win the stage by 36-seconds to van Garderen and 40-seconds to Chris Froome. The winning time was 4:31.22 with an average speed of 35,6 km/h for the 161 km stage.

Seven riders went clear at the start of Thursday’s stage from Dignes-les-Bains to Pra Loup. The course featured the category 1 Col d’Allos as the penultimate climb, known to cycling fans as the place where Eddy Merckx lost his bid for a sixth Tour de France in 1975 when he was passed on the descent by eventual winner Bernard Thévenet. The gap to the break quickly disappeared on the climb and many riders suffered in the last part of the race under hot temperatures in France. Bardet’s attack over the top and his quick descent into the valley below set up the perfect launch pad for his win on Pra Loup. 

Friday brings stage 6 at 183 km begins in Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur and ends in Villard-de-Lans. The peloton will face six rated climbs along the way.