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Stage 5 Review

By Phil Liggett
There is no such thing as a quiet day on the Tour de France and this fifth stage, which traced the shores of the Mediterranean Sea for the last 40 miles, proved to be another tough day in the saddle.
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MMR Stage 5

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About Stage 5: Le Cap d’Agde > Perpignan

LE CAP D’AGDE
The visit of the Mediterranean coast continues with the start from Cap d’Agde, one of France’s most popular seaside resorts. The only other time the stage finished in Cap d’Agde, in 1998, Tom Steels added a bouquet to his collection by winning the final sprint. The Belgian won four Tour stages that year, including the first and last.

PERPIGNAN
Perpignan, the capital of French Catalonia, is a regular Tour point of passage, symbolising the race’s imminent entrance to the Pyrenees when it moves in a clockwise direction or exit in the other years. In 1993 Pascal Lino won the only French victory in a stage similar to the one that has been planned this year. Four years later, the last time the Tour finished in Perpignan, Laurent Desbiens won the final Pyrenees stage.

Voeckler's Return

By Bob Roll
Stage 5 in this year’s Tour De France featured something that opening stages rarely do, but on stage 3 we saw be saw a bit of this, which is a heavy cross wind that can the rip the peloton apart, just like in the mountain stages.

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Map My Ride Challenge

Production Credentials

Je suis Americaine
By Leslie Varsha
Tuesday morning, when I went to get my car from the parking lot in Montpellier, I found myself slightly blocked in by the Bouygues Telecom, Team Saxo Bank, and Liquigas team busses.
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Newsflashes - Stage 05

18:00:11 - The Top Five In Stage Five...

The sprinters didn't have their way today. In fact two of the escapees that raced ahead at the 12km mark beat the bunch to the line. The top five in the stage from Cap d'Agde to Perpignan is:

1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA) BBO - 196.5km in 4h29'35" (43.734km/h)

2. Mikhail Ignatiev (RUS) KAT - at 7"

3. Mark Cavendish (GBR) THR - at 7"

4. Tyler Farrar (USA) GRM - at 7"

5. Gerald Ciolek (GER) MRM - at 7"

17:15:43 - Tears Of Joy For Voeckler

Thomas Voeckler crossed the finish line with tears in his eyes. It's his Bbox Bouygues Telecom team's second stage victory in the Tour de France but the first for the former French champion.

17:14:20 - Voeckler 12" Ahead

Voeckler is 12" ahead of Timmer with less than 1,000m to go. This is his first stage victory and it's been a long time coming. Take a bow Thomas. Lovely work by a perpetual aggressor!

17:12:53 - Never Say Die...!

Voeckler is one of the most aggressive riders in the peloton, especially at the Tour de France. He is a regular in the escape groups and it seems that he may finally get the victory he's worked so hard to achieve. He is less than 1,000m from the finish; the bunch is out of contention and it seems that he's timed his move to perfection...

17:12:16 - Voeckler Leads By 10"

Timmer is 10" behind Voeckler with less than 3km to go in the stage. This is turning into Thomas' day.

17:11:33 - No Stage For The Sprinters...

The peloton is out of contention now. There is less than 3km to go in the stage and the bunch is about 50" behind Voeckler who has a solid lead on the other escapees.

17:10:35 - A Great Birthday Present?

Could Voeckler give his team manager the perfect 53rd birthday present? BBox has only ever won one stage of the Tour before and currently it looks like Voeckler can maintain his advantage all the way to the finish...

17:09:46 - Voeckler Opens Up Good Lead

Could this be the day that Voeckler finally wins a stage of the Tour? He has opened up a good advantage on the three others in the lead group. There is less than 4km to go in the stage and Voeckler appears to be in control...

17:09:31 - Voeckler Attacks

Voeckler has attacked the lead group with 5km to go.

17:08:48 - Four In The Lead

The six have been reduced to four with five kilometers to go. The leaders are now: Ignatiev, Hutarovich, Voeckler and Timmer.

17:07:56 - Voeckler Closes Gap To Ignatiev

Voeckler has been able to chase down the surge by the Russian in the lead. So too has Timmer (SKS) and Hutarovich (FDJ). They are now 1'00" ahead of the peloton.