Tour de Suisse 2011: Stage 5

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January 1 - June 19, Huttwil, Switzerland, Road - UPT (ProTour)

Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews coverage of stage five of the Tour de Suisse. The 204.5km stage from Huttwil – Tobel-Tägerschen is expected to end with a sprint finish.

The stage includes several minor climbs but is expected to end in a sprint finish.

The riders have covered 125km of the stage under a warm sun and dry conditions.

Yesterday world champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) won the stage, beating Peter Sagan (Cannondale-Liquigas) in the sprint, to take his first win in the rainbow jersey. You can read about his win and see a gallery of photographs here.

The racing today has been quite tame with an early breakaway of four riders going clear after just a few kilometres. The peloton was happy to let them quickly open a gap.

The four adventurers of the day are Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Alessandro Bazzana (Type 1), Jan Barta (NetApp) and Daniel Sesma (Euskatel-Euskadi).

74km remaining from 204km

Sesma is the best placed rider overall but he is 22:19 and so no threat to Damiano Cunego's overall lead.

The lead of the four hit ten minutes after just 30km of the stage but since then Liquigas-Cannondale and Team Sky have been on the front leading the chase.

Omega Pharma-Lotto has also done its share of the work for Andre Griepel, hoping the German sprinter can find his fast finish after a so-far disappointing season.

We've already had a couple of retirements today. Giro d'Italia stage winner Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale) did not start due to his facial injuries he incurred in a post-stage one crash. He was riding to his hotel but hit a speed bump and landed on the left side of his face.

Fellow Italian Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) has also retired mid-stage.

59km remaining from 204km

The Tour de Suisse is the traditional final stage race for riders building towards the Tour de France. However the Ster KLM Toer also stsarts today in the Netherlands.

The Tour de Suisse is the traditional final stage race for riders building towards the Tour de France. However the Ster KLM Toer also starts today in the Netherlands.

The Tour de Suisse is the traditional final stage race for riders building towards the Tour de France. However the Ster KLM Toer also starts today in the Netherlands.

Many of the Tour de France contenders not in Switerland are currnetly at training camp. David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) is camped up in the Pyrenees not far from his base in Gerona, while several Astana riders are in St Moritz, Switzerland and or just over the border in Livigno Italy.

Many of the Tour de France contenders not in Switerland are currently at training camp. David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) is camped up in the Pyrenees not far from his base in Gerona, while several Astana riders are in St Moritz, Switzerland and or just over the border in Livigno Italy.

Many of the Tour de France contenders not in Switerland are currently at training camps. David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) is high up in the Pyrenees not far from his base in Gerona, while several Astana riders are in St Moritz, Switzerland and or just over the border in Livigno Italy.

Many of the Tour de France contenders not in Switerland are currently at training camps. David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) is high up in the Pyrenees not far from his base in Gerona, while several Astana riders are in St Moritz, Switzerland and or just over the border in Livigno Italy.

Many of the Tour de France contenders not in Switerland are currently at training camps. David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) is high up in the Pyrenees not far from his base in Gerona, while several Astana riders are in St Moritz, Switzerland and or just over the border in Livigno Italy.

Alberto Contador is currently in the Alps. Richie Porte is with him and told Cyclingnews here that he is riding L'Alpe d'Huez for the first time today. 

40km remaining from 204km

The peloton is now passing through the finish and is no doubt noticing how narrow the finish is. 

The next hour of racing is set to be fast and in crescendo as the sprinters and their teams fight for victory.

35km remaining from 204km

The four are now back together but Sesma is struggling to hang on.

172km remaining from 204km

Bert Grabsche (HTC-Highroad) is now on the front, churning a big gear in pursuit of the break.

Race television os now showing some great on bike images.

The camera is pointing backwards with the rider's rear wheel spinnig andshowing just how close the riders are in the bunch.

These are the big favourites: Mark Cavendish (HTC), Greg van Avermaet (BMC), Koldo Fernandez (EUS), Gerald Ciolek and Tom Boonen (QKSP), Matti Breschel and Oskar Freire (RAB), Ben Swift and Greg Henderson (SKY), Robbie MacEwen and Robert Hunter (RAD).

Garmin-Cervelo and Team Sky are also helping in the chase of the break.

26km remaining from 204km

Garmin-Cervelo is riding to set-up Hushovd for a second stage win.

21km remaining from 204km

The gap to the break is just 50 seconds now.

Ouch. The peloton is lined out as HTC-highroad lead the chase. Peter Velits took a tumble but is still doing his turn on the front.

Barta is still going for it furiously up front but the peloton is on his trial.

Bazzan is now hanging onto the back of the peloton after his long breakaway.

14km remaining from 204km

Euskaltel-Euskadi are again on the front, mixing turns with Garmin-Cervelo riders. 

11km remaining from 204km

Here comes BMC, as HTC wait before giving it there are.

BMC has four riders on the front, including George Hincapie.

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) is wearing the green sprinter's jersey and must be a favourite today.

8km remaining from 204km

The peloton is one long line, with some gaps appearing in the line.

BMC, HTC and Omega Pharma mixing it on the front.

5km remaining from 204km

HTC is now on the front and have decided to take charge.

HTC has four riders in team pursuit formation.

Other riders are trying to take Cavendish's wheel.

Team Sky has hijacked the HTC lead out and taken over. 

Hushovd is also up there.

There are few bumps and hand offs.

2km remaining from 204km

This is tight and nasty.

Quick Step on the front.

left turn!

1km remaining from 204km

Sagan and hushovd and Goss all close.

A Vacansoleil rider is clear.

Phew... that was close.

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) almost caught the Vacnasoleil rider but instead it was Bozic (Vacansoleil) who came off his wheel to snatch the victory.

Bozic could hardly believe he'd won.

Mark Cavendish (HTC) seemed to lose his lead out and the riders were all over the road.

According to provisional results Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) was fourth in the sprint.

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) kept the overall race lead, 54 ahead of Mauricio Soler (Movistar).

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