Tour de France 2010, stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Mark Cavendish made it two wins in two days with a dominant sprint in Guegnon today. When he started his sprint he was instantly a bike length clear of American Tyler Farrar (Garmin), and neither he nor Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) were able to make any inroads in to his lead.
It was a clear indication that Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is getting better and better as the race goes on, and the win sees him make up ground in the green jersey competition. He is now up to fifth, just 33 points behind leader Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) who could only manage tenth today.
But as good as Cavendish was a the end of today's long hot stage, he owes the win to his lead out man Mark Renshaw. The Aussie was brilliant through the tight turns in the last kilometre and didn't panic when the three-man Garmin train got a small gap in the last 500 metres.
Then in the final straight the Lampre rider in front of Renshaw sat up unexpectedly, but quick as a flash he was past him and on the wheel in front.
Without hesitation he then started his sprint before Cavendish jumped round him in the dash for the line. The overhead camera showed how far clear Cavendish was within just a couple of pedal revolutions and put to bed any fears that he, his team or anyone else may have had over his ability.
He may not be in the form he had last year when he won six stages, but he still has the best turn of speed in the peloton.
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Hotting up
The temperature soared in to the mid thirties today as the race made its way south in to the middle of France as the peloton had to endure it's longest day in the saddle. 227.5km took them over four category four climbs and countless bumps in between.
The daily three man break - that today was made up of Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma Lotto), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel Euskadi) - enjoyed the limelight today, but even getting reinforcements from Dimitri Champion (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) over the top of the final climb couldn't save them from their fate.
Although HTC-Columbia had to once again do the lions share of the work, they were helped in the last ten kilometres by a stiff crosswind. With memories of last year's stage to La Grande Motte still fresh in rider's minds, all the favourites were suddenly at the front of the bunch.
First Cadel Evans (BMC), then Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) were seen in the front line of riders. At one point Alberto Contador was second wheel as Astana stretched the bunch.
With the contenders teams constantly moving to the front there was no need for HTC to set the pace. They came back to the front within the last kilometres but were soon overwhelmed by Lampre and Garmin. The American team seemed to have the initiative when three of them lead through the right and left hand bends just inside the last kilometre.
It looked like a perfect lead out for Tyler Farrar, but they hadn't banked on Mark Renshaw.
Mountains looming
Tomorrow the race hits the mountains as the race route heads east to Station des Rousses in the Jura mountain range near the Swiss border.
The profile has a category four climb, two category three climbs and three category two climbs, with the finish at the top of the third. Both race leader Fabian Cancellara and Brit Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) will be expected to fall down the general classification.
Thomas gained three seconds on Cancellara today as a small split opened up behind the sprinters.
RESULTS
Tour de France 2010, stage five: Montargis - Guegnon, 227.5km
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia5-37:42hrs
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin Transitions
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre Farnese
4. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Katusha
5. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Milram
6. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom
7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky
9. Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin Transitions
10. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
British
11. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
32. Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team at 3 seconds
40. Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team
131. Stephen Cummings (GBr) Team Sky
135. Charly Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma Lotto
157. David Millar (GBr) Garmin Transitions all at same time
General classification
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank 28-37-30hrs
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 20 secs
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 39 secs
4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Transitions at 46 secs
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step at 1-01 mins
6. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank at 1-09 mins
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team at 1-16 mins
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana at 1-31 mins
9. Alberto Contador (Esp) Astana at 1-40 mins
10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto at 1-42 mins
British
14. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky at 1-49 mins
15. David Millar (GBr) Garmin Transitions at 2-06 mins
66. Stephen Cummings (GBr) Team Sky at 3-44 mins
107. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC Columbia at 9-08 mins
146. Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team at 19-23 mins
171. Charly Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma Lotto at 27-15 mins
Points: Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo
Mountains: Jerome Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
Young rider: Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky
Sebastian Lang heads the escape trio
Daniel Lloyd
Sunflowers: Every Tour photographer's dream
HTC-Columbia and Saxo Bank work at the front of the bunch
Mark Cavendish makes it two in a row
Fabian Cancellara maintains the race lead
Tour de France 2010: Latest news
Cavendish strikes back in Tour de France
Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'
Wiggins crashes on Tour stage start
Cavendish and Farrar return to top
Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win
Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure
Thomas in tour's white jersey; Wiggins gains time
Evans and Schleck gain in Tour's hell of the north
The Feed Zone: Tour news and views (July 6)
Vande Velde abandons Tour following crash
Andy Schleck has a laugh after stage two crash
The Feed Zone: News and views (July 5)
Sky banks on Thomas ahead of cobbled stage
Cavendish's sprint train weakened with Hansen out
Armstrong under fire as Landis allegations reach mainstream
Team Sky's decision to put Wiggins off early back fires
Tour de France 2010: Stage reports
Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up
Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour
Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims
Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC
Stage three live coverage: As it happened
Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa
Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters
Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win
Tour de France 2010: Photos
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one gallery
Prologue photo gallery
Tour de France 2010: Videos
Stage five video highlights
Stage four video highlights
Stage three video highlights
Stage two video highlights
Stage one video highlights
Prologue video highlights
Tour de France 2010: Race guide
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Official start list, with race numbers
Brits at the Tour 2010
Tout team guide
Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins
Tour de France 2010: Pictures
Tour team presentation, Rotterdam
Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special
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