Belgian Van Avermaet grabs yellow jersey after winning Tour's 5th stage

Belgian rider Greg van Avermaet took a bold move on Wednesday, which led to his just second victory at the Tour de France and the overall leader's yellow jersey.

The 31-year-old raced clear to take the 216km ride of the fifth stage from Limoges to Le Lioran, leading France's Julian Alaphilippe of Etixx-Quick Step by five minutes 11 seconds and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde of Movistar by 5:13.

Van Avermaet was part of a nine-man breakaway after some 20km, shortly after going through Saint Leonard de Noblat, the home town of France's favourite rider, the 80-year-old Raymond Poulidor, who finished eight times on the Tour podium.

He, his compatriot Thomas de Gendt and Ukrainian Andriy Grivko went away with 85km left to the finish, before the Belgian of BMC Racing Team made his final move on the climb to the Col de Perth's 17km from the line.

"It's special for me, it's the best jersey in the world. It's my first time and perhaps the last so I will enjoy every moment," said Van Avermaet, who claimed his first Tour victory last year in the 13th stage.

"It's the best moment of my career. Winning a stage is already quite something but this takes it to another level," he claimed after finishing the 216km ride in 5:31:36.

De Gendt was second at 2:34 and Pole Rafal Majka of Tinkoff took third place with further 2:30, while big names Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali struggled.

Defending champion Chris Froome of Team Sky and last year's runner-up Nairo Quintana of Movistar lie fifth and seventh respectively, 5:17 off the pace.

The sixth stage on Thursday will be a mostly flat 190.5km ride from Arpajon sur Cere to Montauban before the Tour enters the Pyrenees. Endit