Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. And when you have both on your side, well, you're pretty much unbeatable.
For the second day in a row, André Greipel (Lotto Belisol Team) won the bunch sprint. Aided in part by the the misfortune of the day's favorite, on this day Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) was unable to avoid disaster before the sprinters would wind up, but mostly buttressed by the well-timed and well-oiled Lotto Belisol train, Greipel overtook and outlasted all comers on the slight uphill finish in Saint-Quentin.
Matthew Harley Goss (Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team), who jumped once the final rider in the break was caught but could not hold on, finished second, and Juan José Haedo (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) would round out the podium.
"I'm happy because I won another stage in the Tour de France," said Greipel in a post stage interview. "There was a bit of a crash and I was behind it at 3k to go, but Greg Henderson was waiting for me. The Lotto Belisol train was working perfectly today. It was a hard sprint, I think it was one of the hardest sprints I've ever done."
Results - Stage 5 - Rouen - Saint-Quentin (196.5km)
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team - 4:41:30
2. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
3. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
No changes occurred to the top ten, but this weekend will certainly be a sorting out.
General Classification After Stage 5
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan - 20:04:02
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling - 0:00:07
3. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:10
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling - 0:00:11
6. Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team - 0:00:13
7. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:17
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:00:18
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Sharp
10. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan - 0:00:19
Jersey Leaders After Stage 5
maillot jaune - Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
maillot vert - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
maillot à pois rouges - Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
maillot blanc - Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
Team Classification After Stage 5
1. Sky Procycling - 74:17:10
2. RadioShack-Nissan - 0:00:04
3. BMC Racing Team - 0:00:06
4. Omega Pharma-Quickstep - 0:00:13
5. Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:00:29
6. Katusha Team - 0:00:38
7. Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team - 0:00:50
8. Astana Pro Team - 0:00:52
9. Rabobank Cycling Team - 0:01:01
10. Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:01:51
Quick Stepping Through The Tour - Martin Finds a Friend in the Peloton
Injured World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin, who fractured his left scaphoid in a Stage 1 crash at the Tour, survived another Tour stage on Thursday. Martin has spent time in the back of the peloton with another injuried Tour rider, Luis Leon Sanchez of Rabobank. Sanchez also injured his hand.
"We are always together in the back of the peloton, where there is room for discussion" Martin said. "It is true, even if we suffer, we talk a little bit together. We talk about the race, the weather, the conditions of the road. It's funny because each day, we give each other our medical reports. I will explain to him my condition, and he will tell me his condition. We are always kind of updated about our injuries. It's funny in these kind of conditions, while you are suffering, you can sometimes find some good guys to share your thoughts with."
Next: Stage 6 - Épernay - Metz (207.5km)
The last day for the sprinters until Stage 13. It promises to be another fast and hopefully not so furious finish.
Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
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