Out of the Alps for a sprint stage and a tonal change as the race leaves the mountains for a week.Faire Valloire: UAE were not subtle. They started work early and even managed to split the field briefly before the Lautaret, catching out the likes of Simon Yates. Then they kept up the pace, scything down the breakaway and threshing the peloton.By the Galibier proper race radio was reeling off the names of riders being ejected, among them maillot jaune Richard Carapaz and soon it was easier to list the riders left up front. Pogaar was out to test Jonas Vingegaards health.There was an interesting inter-office moment when Joo Almeida beckoned Juan Ayuso to do a turn, shades of Im burying myself in this headwind and youre free-riding to become our second-placed GC rider without doing a pull. Only supply your own caption as they wont say it aloud. Amid the demonstration of power Adam Yates was dropped.Pogaar attacked as soon as the slope kicked up after the turning for the Galibier tunnel, 900m before the top. It was forceful, he was out of the saddle and shaking the bike below him for 20 pedal strokes. Vingegaard replied, but only 10 pedal strokes out of the saddle before he went into the brace position, seated and head tucked low. Being aero counts on the upper slopes of the Galibier when you are moving at 30km/h. Evenepoel had responded but couldnt get across.Vingegaard was valiant in the chase and for a long time there were only seconds in it. But once away from the most technical parts Pogaar pulled out a lead. Later Vingegaard was caught by Carlos Rodriguez and Primo Rogli and soon after Remco Evenepoel made it across.So the stage and the yellow jersey for Pogaar but is it conclusive? Vingegaard is close in terms of form, hes arguably exceeding some expectations but his team mates are not, he was isolated at the end.Pogaar now leads by 45 seconds with Remco Evenepoel next and Vingegaard third. Roglic are Rodriguez already over a minute down while the rest of the GC contenders are over three minutes away.The cards could be shuffled soon with the time trial and gravel stage. How Vingegaard can respond? He might improve as the race goes on while Pogaars fatigue grows, but if this happens he still has to find a way to get past the UAE team. Rodriguez is now the sole leader at Ineos and Evenepoel is a contender but would both sign today for a podium? Is that a rhetorical question? Rogli so far is only following, for a change he hasnt got any time bonuses, but still a contender.The Route: out of the Alps and avoiding as much of the climbing as possible, even the mountain passes on the course today are not cited. Its down the Isre valley and past the Lacets de Montvernier and climbing options galore but its a deliberately flat day.Over to Chambry where the Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale team has its service course. The French teams each have a regional identity: Decathlon are savoyards from the Alps: Cofidis nordistes from the north, Arka-B&B Hotels from Brittany while Groupama-FDJ is more the exception, its service course is outside Paris by the CDG airport but it has a base in Besanon in Eastern France.Then comes the unmarked Col de Couz, 13km long but just 3-4% and then its down to the Rhone and a course that tracks the river. The climb to Lhuis is the last obvious obstacle for the sprinters, 3km at 5% and with steeper parts but all with 35km to go, more scenic detour than anything else.The Finish: Saint-Vulbas is a village but with a giant logistics park on the side and its the latter that hosts the finish meaning big roads built for trucks. Its slightly uphill but were talking 1-2% tops and the finishing straight is practically 2.5km long.The Contenders: unable to sprint last time, well see if Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) gets a go today and again if he has Mathieu van der Poel as a battering ram than hes got a good chance of winning.Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) has the train and the speed to be in the mix but hes not a bike length ahead of the rest. Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco) has the speed but can he get an opening? His aero position can count in a headwind.Biniam Girmay (Intermarch-Wanty) for a second win? Why not but its not even clear hes a sprinter, yes hes fast and agile but lighter than most sprinters so he needs the right opportunity rather than a straight dragster contest like today. But hes close to the green jersey so presumably the team, Thijssen included, are on duty.Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) was close. Sam Bennett (Decathlon-Ag2r) is on team turf but it doesnt make him faster.PhilipsenPedersen, GroenewegenDe Lie, Bennett, GirmayWeather: cloudy and 22C. Not much wind but itll count in the sprint, 10-15km/h from the NNW meaning a headwind.TV: KM0 is at 1.30pm CEST and the finish is forecast for 5.25pm CEST. Tune in for the climb to Lhuis at around 4.30pm, earlier if you want the scenery of the Rhone and the nearby hills where Mandrin Frances version of Robin Hood roamed.Postcard from Saint-VulbasWould you like to visit Saint-Vulbas? As you can see from the postcard it has a charming priory and the Bugey nuclear power station sits nearby. Its not famous for much, Nacer Bouhanni won a sprint stage of the Dauphin here in 2016 with a boxing victory salute, appropriate after his Cofidis lead out and the Katusha team came to blows during the approach. Hes retired and, married to an award winning actress and film director, taking an increasing interest in cinema. Maybe well see him on the silver screen soon?Back to Saint-Vulbas, at least known to truckers because it is home to a giant logistics park with warehouses for many companies. And talk of logistics brings us to your chance to visit because Visma-Lease A Bike has offered guests the opportunity, yours for 2,775 a go.As the hospitality schedule sets out guests can spend two nights at the race, arriving in time for a light lunch, a ride in the countryside and then an extensive dinner. The next day includes a visit to the Tour start and then race-hopping with staff to points along the race. This is the interesting bit as the experience includes helping with supplies which can mean passing up waterbottles, usually at points early in the race when things are not critical although the Tour peloton is hardly taking in the views. Its a clever move by the team, not all VIP experiences have to involve being waited on or hanging out with stars and the team can deploy paying guests rather than extra staff. After watching the finish and another extensive dinner guests stay one more night with the team before returning home the next day.The post Tour de France Stage 5 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.