After several riders tried and failed to get in the breakaway, the move that finally got away contained surprise stage three winner Koen Bouwman (LottoNL-Jumbo), wearing the polka dot jersey but trailing de Gendt in the mountains classification.

He was joined by Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Julian El Fares (Delko Marseille Provence KTM).

Despite Bouwman’s threat to De Gendt’s lead in the mountains classification, it was FDJ not Lotto-Soudal leading the chase, as they bid to avoid a repeat of the missed sprint opportunity on stage three.

With this being the final chance of a sprint victory in this year’s race, Kristoff’s team-mates continued to wind it up for the Norwegian, with Van Baarle caught.

Katusha-Alpecin led under the flamme rouge, and Kristoff kicked first but he did not have the legs – Demare coming around him.

Demare too, however, could not hold off Bauhaus, however, as he burst out from within Direct Energie’s lead-out, ahead of the French team’s own sprinter Bryan Coquard.

And the German held on to claim a priceless victory, for a team still basking in the glow of their Giro d’Italia win.

The attention will now turn to the GC men, and the mountains, with De Gendt leading overall but second-placed Richie Porte, 27 seconds back, well-fancied to take the race lead.

Criterium du Dauphine 2017: stage five – result

1) Phil Bauhaus (GER) – Team Sunweb – 4.04.32hrs
2) Arnaud Demare (FRA) – FDJ
3) Bryan Coquard (FRA) – Direct Energie
4) Adrien Petit (FRA) – Direct Energie
5) Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) – Cofidis
6) Alexander Kristoff (NOR) – Katusha-Alpecin
7) Pascal Ackermann (GER) – Bora-hansgrohe
8) Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) – Dimension Data
9) Enrico Battaglin (ITA) – LottoNL-Jumbo
10) Oliver Naesen (BEL) – Ag2r-La Mondiale

General classification

1) Thomas de Gendt (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal – 17.10.25hrs
2) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing +27”
3) Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar +51”
4) Stef Clement (NED) – LottoNL-Jumbo +55”
5) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Trek-Segafredo +1.02
6) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +1.04
7) Brent Bookwalter (USA) – BMC Racing +1.12
8) Jesus Herrada (ESP) – Movistar +1.15
9) Sam Oomen (NED) – Team Sunweb +1.17
10) Diego Ulissi (ITA) – UAE Team Emirates +1.22