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The Orica-Greenedge sprinter finished off the hard work of his team to bring back the day's five man breakaway with a convincing win. What looked like a fairly strong time advantage at 30 kms plunged down as Orica, Omega Pharma and Garmin collaborated to bring the break back in the difficult terrain that favored the attackers.
A last ditch attempt by FDJ's Arnaud Courteille was nullified as OPQS sent Tony Martin to the front to crush the hopes and dreams of the young frenchman. When Martin was done, World champ Phillippe Gilbert also made an attempt to peel off the front in a desperate chase to end his winless streak but it was not to be as Argos-Shimano led the peloton into the sprint. The course was never easy for the sprint setup but Orica managed to bring Matthews to the front just in the right time to dominate the final few hundred meters and win unthreatened. Behind him, Lampre's Richeze and Gianni Meersman grabbed second and third. There were no changes to the GC or the leaders jerseys so Vincenzo Nibali stays in the red jersey as race leader.
Top 10 Stage 5
1. | AUSMATTHEWS, Michael | 178 | ORICA GREENEDGE | 4h 28' 22'' | |
2. | ARGRICHEZE, Maximiliano Ariel | 137 | LAMPRE-MERIDA | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
3. | BELMEERSMAN, Gianni | 164 | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
4. | GERARNDT, Nikias | 21 | TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
5. | USAFARRAR, Tyler | 113 | GARMIN SHARP | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
6. | NORBOASSON HAGEN, Edvald | 192 | SKY PROCYCLING | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
7. | FRAROUX, Anthony | 107 | FDJ.FR | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
8. | NZLHENDERSON, Gregory | 144 | LOTTO BELISOL | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
9. | ITARATTO, Daniele | 77 | CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
10. | SLOBOLE, Grega | 212 | VACANSOLEIL-DCM PRO CYCLING TEAM | 4h 28' 22'' | + 0'' |
General Classification
1. | ITANIBALI, Vincenzo | 31 | ASTANA PRO TEAM | 18h 43' 52'' | |
2. | USAHORNER, Christopher | 184 | RADIOSHACK LEOPARD | 18h 43' 55'' | + 3'' |
3. | IRLROCHE, Nicolas | 205 | TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF | 18h 44' 00'' | + 8'' |
4. | ESPZUBELDIA, Haimar | 189 | RADIOSHACK LEOPARD | 18h 44' 08'' | + 16'' |
5. | ESPVALVERDE, Alejandro | 1 | MOVISTAR TEAM | 18h 44' 13'' | + 21'' |
6. | CROKISERLOVSKI, Robert | 186 | RADIOSHACK LEOPARD | 18h 44' 18'' | + 26'' |
7. | COLURAN, Rigoberto | 198 | SKY PROCYCLING | 18h 44' 20'' | + 28'' |
8. | ESPMORENO, Daniel | 127 | KATUSHA TEAM | 18h 44' 23'' | + 31'' |
9. | POLMAJKA, Rafal | 202 | TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF | 18h 44' 30'' | + 38'' |
10. | CZEKREUZIGER, Roman | 201 | TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF | 18h 44' 34'' | + 42'' |