July 9th, 2008 by 
thien
On a beautiful day through the southern Loire Valley of France, a small three man breakaway made up of Lilian Jegou (FdJ), Nicolas Vogundy (Agritubel) and Florent Brard (Cofidis) spent most of the day off the front. On what seemed to be a by the book long stage, the peloton waited until just the right moment to kick it up a notch and reel in the break. Entering the town of Châteauroux the sprinter’s teams had moved to the front and were flying to catch the three. Though with only 1.5 kilometers, Vogundy sprinted and looked as if he might get the win. But with only 200m to finish line Team Columbia worked hard to deliver their sprinter Mark Cavendish to the line.
Thor Hushovd moves into Green with his fourth place finish. All other jersey holders remain the same.
Stage Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) THR
2. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB
3. Erik Zabel (GER) MRM
4. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A
5. Baden Cooke (AUS) BAR
General Classification after Stage 5
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 0.12
3 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 0.21
5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 0.33
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 0.37
7 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - 0.41
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - 0.47
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0.58
10 José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 1.01
Jersey Standings:
Stefan Schumacher
Thor Hushovd
Thomas Voeckler
Thomas Lövkvist
Links to news sites…
“Cavendish takes his first Tour victory
CHATEAUROUX, France (AP) — Mark Cavendish of Britain has won a sprint to take the fifth stage of the Tour de France, and Stefan Schumacher of Germany held on to the overall lead.
Cavendish beat Oscar Freire of Spain and veteran sprinter Erik Zabel of Germany on the line at the end of Wednesday’s flat, 144-mile flat stage from Cholet to Chateauroux that is the Tour’s longest leg.” Read more from The Associated Press…
“Cavendish the fastest as Schumacher keeps yellow
CHATEAUROUX, France (AFP) — Britain’s Mark Cavendish labelled himself the best sprinter in the world after claiming his first Tour de France victory on the race’s fifth stage over 232km here Wednesday.
Germany’s Stefan Schumacher of Gerolsteiner finished with the bunch to retain the yellow jersey with a 12-sec lead on Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen, with Britain’s David Millar in third overall also at 12.” Read more at AFP…
“Cavendish outkicks bunch to win his first Tour stage
By VeloNews.com
With 10km to go in stage 5 of the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish’s Team Columbia teammates drilled it at the front of the chaotic peloton, burying themselves to set up their British sprint star. With 150 meters to go — and early breakaway rider Nicolas Vogondy of Agritubel still barely clear of the chase — Cavendish lit it up and repaid his teammates with a dominant win ahead of Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and Erik Zabel (Milram).” Read more from VeloNews.com…
“Cavendish claims first Tour stage
Team Columbia’s sprinter Mark Cavendish claimed his first Tour de France stage victory in a by-the-book bunch gallop into Châteauroux. The man from the Isle of Man unleashed his unbeatable burst of speed to take the win well clear of a close finish between Rabobank’s Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel (Milram). Thor Hushovd took fourth, but the Crédit Agricole rider was consoled by the fact that he took over the lead in the points classification from Kim Kirchen. As expected, Gerolsteiner’s Stefan Schumacher had no problems holding onto the leader’s yellow jersey on the Tour’s longest stage.” Read more from CyclingNews.com…
