July 6, 2005 – After being relegated two stages ago, Lotto’s Robbie McEwen got his just deserts today taking a marvelous stage win over Green jersey wearer Tom Boonen. Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) finished safely in the bunch, in Yellow, but only after a little drama before the race even began on 183km voyage from Chambord to Montargis.

Armstrong, keen to show his respect for former teammate and fellow American David Zabriskie – who crashed out of Yellow yesterday in the final minutes of the TTT – decided not to wear the leader’s jersey before. This is not unprecedented, having occured several times in Tour history – the last being a decade ago another American opted out (Greg Lemond) after Dane Rolf Sorenson was didn’t start the stage because of a broken collarbone. However, it was not a case today of the more things change, the more they stay the same. Tour officials quickly told Armstrong to change his shirt, or else. So, before the racing began, just after the neutral section, the Texan took a wardrobe break as the peloton waited for the Emperor to change his clothes.

And the racing began. The biggest break of the day was a foursome: Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo), Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas-Bianchi), Lazlo Bodrogi (Crédit Agricole) and Commesso (Lampre-Caffita) were away for a good part of the day, but alas, with 10km to go were caught as the sprinter’s teams set up for the tough finale.

Francais des Jeux seemed to have a great leadout going for Bernhard Eisel, but he faltered up the tough climb and it was Boonen, then McEwen who powered to the finish. McEwen, ecstatic with the win, gesticulated to the world that he was back, and hadn’t given up the fight for Green just yet.

Stage 5

1. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 3.46.00
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step
3. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
4. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Cofidis
5. Angelo Furlan (Ita) Domina Vacanze
6. Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros
7. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise des Jeux
8. Baden Cooke (Aus) Francaise des Jeux
9. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC
10. Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner

G.C

1. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 13.45.12
2. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.55
3. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.04
4. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 1.07
5. Jose Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.14
6. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.16
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 1.21
8. Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.26
9. David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC