At the Tour de Langkawi, today was another day that smiled on the attackers. Nicolas Breuillard arrived alone at the top of Genting Highlands, claiming the fifth stage. After a day spent entirely in the breakaway, the Total Energies Frenchman delivered the decisive attack 2.6 km from the finish line. Lennart Jasch, who finished in third position, maintained his leader's jersey in the general classification. Josh Burnett (Team Burgos) took second place on the day.

THE RACE. The Tour de Langkawi is at the halfway point, with the fifth stage representing the last opportunity to attempt to overturn the general classification. The stage is fairly short, only 125.7 km from Tapah to the famous Genting Highlands finish. The final climb is long and steady and has been tackled multiple times by the Malaysian stage race.

The start was fast and eventful, with many riders attempting to break away from the peloton, but the day's breakaway formed after about thirty kilometers. Nicolas Breuillard and Valentin Retailleu (Total Energies), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural), Josh Burnett and Rodrigo Alvarez (Team Burgos), Edward Cruz (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) and Robin Carpenter (Modern Cycling) managed to gain a maximum advantage of 3'20" over the main group.

As soon as the climb began, the leading group fell apart. Nicolas Breuillard and Josh Burnett increased the pace and remained alone at the finish, managing to gain a significant advantage of 4 minutes over the group of favorites. The French rider delivered the decisive move 2.6 km from the finish line, catching Josh Burnett completely by surprise.

In the orange jersey group, Caja Rural attempted to play a strategic game by moving Balderstone and Castellon, the second and third in the general classification, but Jasch was not caught off guard and instead launched counterattacks on multiple occasions. Thanks to a final sprint, Jasch arrived just 21" behind the winner, securing third place and gaining some additional seconds over his direct rivals.

Tomorrow features the shortest stage of this year's edition. For the sixth day of racing, the peloton will pedal from Pandan Indah to Rembau, a short but eventful stage in the opening section. A bunch sprint finish will not be a foregone conclusion.

STAGE RESULTS

1 Breuillard Nicolas TotalEnergies 3:11:26

2 Burnett Josh Burgos Burpellet BH 0:08

3 Jasch Lennart Tudor Pro Cycling Team 0:21

4 Castellon Jan Caja Rural - Seguros RGA ,,

5 Díaz José Manuel Burgos Burpellet 0:23

6 Balderstone Abel Caja Rural - Seguros RGA ,,

7 Gutiérrez Jorge Equipo Kern Pharma 0:31

8 Fougner Eivind Broholt Unibet Rose Rockets 0:38

9 Bregnhøj Mathias Terengganu Cycling Team 1:29

10 Arriolabengoa Julen Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 1:43

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1 Jasch Lennart Tudor Pro Cycling Team 18:58:33

2 Balderstone Abel Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 0:26

3 Castellon Jan Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 0:42

4 Díaz José Manuel Burgos Burpellet BH 1:20

5 Fougner Eivind Broholt Unibet Rose Rockets 1:37

6 Gutiérrez Jorge Equipo Kern Pharma 1:55

7 Burnett Josh Burgos Burpellet BH 2:56

8 Bregnhøj Mathias Terengganu Cycling Team 2:58

9 Le Berre Mathis TotalEnergies 3:25

10 Christophersen Cedrik Bakke Unibet Rose Rockets 3:30