British Rider Wins Stage 5 for U.S. Team

After 165 kilometers and several crashes (which the race leaders were able to avoid), stage 5 finished in a sprint to the finish by the fastest cyclists. British rider Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) was able to squeeze out the stage win, while Belgium's Philippe Gilbert (Omaga-Lotto) finished in second and Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) finished in third. As was expected, Norway's Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) finished in the same time as the winners and will retain the yellow jersey for another day.

Tomorrow's stage 6 is the longest ride yet. It is 226.5 kilometers long and anything but flat -- having two category 3 climbs and a category 4 climb among multiple hills. Barring a successful breakaway (which could happen in this stage) it will probably be another day for the sprinters, but only the strongest among them.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)
2. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........01"
3. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........04"
4. David Millar, Great Britain (Garmin-Cervelo)..........08"
5. Andreas Kloden, Germany (Radio Shack)..........10"
6. Bradley Wiggins, Great Britain (Sky Procycling)..........10"
7. Geraint Thomas, Great Britain (Sky Procycling)..........12"
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norway (Sky Procycling)..........12"
9. Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark (Leopard-Trek)............12"
10. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........12"
13. Christopher Horner, USA (Radio Shack)..........18"
14. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack)..........18"
39. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........1' 42"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........120 pts
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)..........112 pts
3. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........90 pts
4. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Highroad)..........84 pts
5. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)..........82 pts
6. Tyler Farrar, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........68 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........2 pts
2. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........1 pt
3. Mickael Delage, France (FDJ)..........1 pt
4. Johnny Hoogerland, Netherlands (Vacansoleil)..........1 pt
5. Anthony Delaplace, France (Saur-Sojasun)..........1 pt
6. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........1 pt


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
2. Sky Procycling (Great Britain)..........02"
3. Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)..........04"
4. Radio Shack (USA)..........10"
5. HTC-Highroad (USA)..........13"
6. Astana (Kazakhstan)..........49"