The Belgian Olympic road race champion was leading a small group chasing two leaders inside the final 2km of the stage when he appeared to brake sharply.

Evenepoel has now been sanctioned for improper conduct towards another rider, receiving a fine of CHF100 and a penalty of 10 UCI points. 

He was not given a yellow card or a time penalty on the general classification, though, meaning his two-second deficit behind overall Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) remained heading into Sunday’s final stage. 

Evenepoel edged in front just over 300m from the finish line on Saturday, before out-sprinting Thomas Gloag (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) to claim the stage.

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Evenepoel sprints across line to win Stage 5 of Tour of Britain

Video credit: TNT Sports

“It’s been quite a search for [a win],” Evenepoel conceded. “In the end I’m happy to take a stage win here.

“Last year I didn’t get a stage win so it feels good to be here with some better legs and some better results as well. I was very happy with the stage win. I’m very satisfied.

“It feels really good [to win] with the headwind. I [started sprinting] from 200m so I was hesitating, [worried] that the guys would overtake me.

“But in the end, I think my sprint was strong enough to make it to the line. Having won the sprint today, it’s maybe a bit of a shame about my [performance] yesterday, because it would have been maybe a bit different in terms of general classification.

“But in the end, that’s cycling, so we have to look to tomorrow and enjoy this one.”

When asked if the victory in Wales could be used as a source of encouragement ahead of the Road World Championships later this month in Rwanda, the Belgian said: “Yeah, for sure.

“I’ve done quite some work for the team already – for our sprinter. Also I’m sometimes riding a bit more after the stages.

“It’s not that I’m here only for the racing – I’m really here to improve myself and test myself. So for the moment all goes well and I feel that I’m on the right track, so that’s very positive.”

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