Stage 5 saw the 188 riders take on the 187.5 km route from Épernay to Montargis in sweltering temperatures. The day’s racing incorporated a couple of category 4 climbs and three intermediate sprints, with this stage of the Tour de France being another one designed for the sprint specialists. Those contesting the overall competition nestled in the middle of the peloton in relative safety for the whole race, awaiting the mountains at the weekend. The attack of the day was initiated at the 6 km mark by Spanish Road Racing Champion Ivan Gutiérrez (GCE), closely pursued by El Fares (COF) and van de Walle (QST). The peloton played the same cat and mouse game with the escapees that they played in Stage 4.
In identical fashion to yesterday’s stage, HTC-Columbia dispatched Sivtsov to the head of the chasing group to keep the three race leaders from escaping completely. During the course of this stage, the HTC-Columbia did the lion’s share of the chasing, the other teams content to fall in behind and let HTC carry the fight. O’Grady (SAX) did work on behalf of the peloton eventually, helping out Sivstov, and pulling back substantial time on the breakaway.
As they got closer to the finale, both Teams Lampre and Cervelo stepped up to assist in pulling the leading trio back into the pack, but as they got within 20 seconds, Gutiérrez mounted an attack, flying from third place and into the lead, the other two riders unable to persuade their legs to match the new pace. Eventually, with the race down to just the Spaniard and the peloton, Gutiérrez’s legs gave up at 4 km out and he was caught. This set the scene for another sprinters’ showdown, after yesterday’s superbly timed attack by Petacchi.
(Photo of Mark Cavendish, by Bryan Green Photography.)
After a second consecutive stage of the Tour where the entire HTC-Columbia team has sweated bullets, grafting to keep the race alive for a group sprint finish, Cavendish had most to prove. The team had amassed members at the head of the peloton, but were out-manoeuvred by Garmin who grabbed the right hand lane en masse. As lead in man for HTC, Eisel, realized he was leading the wrong team, he eventually dropped off, and Mark Renshaw took over the job of delivering Cavendish to the front, and did an inspired job, shouldering two other team riders to box them in and open the door for Cav to dive out, 240 meters from the line. The sprint was on, and Cavendish was never going to be caught, despite being pushed by Ciolek (MRM) and Boasson Hagen (SKY).
Job done and both the strain and the relief burst forth in a flood of tears from Cavendish during his podium ceremony for winning his 1st stage of the Tour de France 2010 – his 11th stage win in the Tour so far.
Stage 5 was purely one for the sprinters, so the overall General Classification remains unchanged. The Stage 5 results are as follows:
1. Cancellara (SAX)
2. Thomas (SKY)
3. Evans (BMC)
4. Hesjedal (GRM)
5. Chavanel (QST)
6. Schleck (SAX)
7. Hushovd (CTT)
8. Vinokourov (AST)
9. Contador (AST)
10. Van Den Broeck (SIL)
1. Cavendish
2. Ciolek
3. Boasson Hagen
4. Rojas
5. Hushovd
6. Turgot
7. McEwen
8. Petacchi
9. Mondory
10. Farrar
Cycling shirt awards remain unchanged after Stage 5 today, with Cancellara in the Yellow Jersey for the next stage, Hushovd in the Green Jersey, Pineau in the Polka Dot Jersey and Thomas in the White Jersey.
Tomorrow takes the riders to Stage 6 and another, final sprinters’ stage before they hit the Alps at the weekend. At 227.5 km, this is another long one, from Montargis to Gueugnon. As for today, it’s great to see Cav back to his winning ways after picking up no less than 6 sprint stage wins in the Tour last year!
