March 10, 2011 (Vernoux-en-Vivarais, France) – Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack took the sprint win on the 193km Stage 5 today, beating out Olympic Champion Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team rolled across the line in third position. Klöden is in the GC lead with a mere 4s advantage over Sanchez. Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal (Team Garmin-Cervelo) placed 12th on the stage and is now 18th overall.

Results (brief)

1. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 4:59:00
2. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
4. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
5. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
6. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team Astana
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack
8. Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Movistar Team
9. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:18
10. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:19
11. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard
12. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo

GC after Stage 5

1. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 24:26:13
2. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:04
3. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:06
4. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:10
5. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team Astana
6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack
7. Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Movistar Team
8. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
9. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:28
10. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:29

18. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo