Watch stage six of the Criterium du Daphine LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand this Friday from 10.20 pm (AEST).
The 29-year-old Austrian took the yellow jersey on stage two of the Criterium du Dauphine with a brilliant solo ride that caught the trailing peloton unaware.
While many expected the Bora Hansgrohe rider’s time at the top would be brief, the former Austrian road race champion dug deep on stage three to keep a two-second lead.
Postlberger gave it everything to cling on during the time trial on stage four and a thrilling stage five to go into stage six still at the front but by only a single second.
"I was ready for attacks from the start. I followed some moves and eventually, we decided, OK, we're gonna pull,” he said after a tough ride on stage five.
“I had a really strong team today, they did an amazing job when they brought the breakaway back, and we could focus on the final with Konnie (Patrick Konrad) and Wilco Kelderman, as well as myself.”
Stage six of the Dauphine is a 167km route from Loriol-Sur-Drome to Le Sappey En Chartreuse and features a pair of category two and category three climbs before the finish line.
With such a challenging stage ahead, the Austrian rouler knows his chances of keeping the yellow jersey are slim and is ready to shift his focus to supporting the GC aspirations of teammates Konrad and Kelderman.
"Tomorrow's a GC day, and if I have to work, I'm gonna work and do what I can for Konnie and Wilco," he said.
"But it's been a pleasure and a joy riding in yellow and carrying it on my shoulders for four days. I've really enjoyed it."
