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Follow us on GooglePaul Double won the fifth and final stage of the Tour of Slovakia. The final stage of the so-called Okolo Slovenska covered only 124 kilometers from Nová Dubnica to Kohútka and, in addition to the battle for the stage victory, was also to decide the GC. On the final climb of 5.5 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.5 percent, Double proved to be the best, despite a whole week of demolition work by Visma | Lease. They were left empty-handed.
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After no fewer than four (!) stage wins in the first four days, Paul Magnier was logically the overall leader on Sunday, the man of the moment and the rider to beat on the day. The young Frenchman from Soudal-Quick Step started the final stage with a 19-second lead over his closest rival (and four-time runner-up) Lukas Kubis of Unibet Tietema Rockets. The gap to the rest was already 38 seconds or more.
So the big question was: would Magnier be able to defend his lead in what could be described as a mountain stage? “It was certainly not the plan to go for the overall classification, but I think I now have a 43-second lead over the other guys. So I'll give it a try,” said Magnier after his fourth stage victory.
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Paul Magnier
Visma | Lease a Bike puts pressure on first climbs
Three ascents preceded the final climb of the day to Vršatec, a tough 3.6-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 8.1 percent. The ideal place for classification teams to really turn up the pressure. Visma | Lease a Bike, which had seized every opportunity to make its mark throughout the week, did just that for leaders Gloag and Cian Uijtdebroeks.
After a leading group of fifteen quickly pulled away, the Dutch team set the pace. Bart Lemmen was at the front, but it soon became clear that this group didn't stand a chance. Already at the start of the last 70 kilometers, and after two climbs to Vršatec, the early breakaway riders were caught. Magnier was still there, despite having changed bikes.
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Will Magnier crack under the pressure of his leading position?
There was one more climb of just over three kilometers to make it very difficult for Magnier, but to really break away, it seemed like a bad plan, with more than 40 kilometers to go to the foot of the final climb after the summit. Nevertheless, Uijtdebroeks tried an attack, and the Belgian got precisely the kind of person you want with you at a moment like that in Paul Double (Jayco AlUla).
It proved to be the final blow for Magnier, who saw his attempt to keep up fail. This meant that, in addition to the battle for the stage win, the battle for the overall victory was also wide open. Visma | Lease a Bike had to get rid of Kubis, but the Slovakian was at least able to keep up with the Visma pressure towards the foot of the final climb in front of his home crowd. In addition to Visma, Jayco AlUla also had many riders here.
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Final climb in Slovakia decides stage and overall victory
5.5 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.5 percent, that's where it had to happen. And it soon became clear that Kubis didn't have the legs to handle such an effort. Menno Huising initiated the action on behalf of Visma, but when Double made his move, only Lemmen was able to follow. Gloag attempted to bridge the gap, but the Brit was unable to close it immediately.
Double accelerated, knowing that he was explosive in a sprint and that Lemmen had already been in the early breakaway. Both men were on the same time, so the winner of the stage would also take the overall victory. However, it didn't come to that because Double kept pushing and destroyed Lemmen in the final kilometer. This left Visma | Lease a Bike empty-handed, and Double took the double victory.
Results stage 5 Tour of Slovakia 2025
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
