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RACE REPORTS: PARIS-NICE STAGE 5: ROY ROARS TO VICTORY
Road Bike Action & AFP
March 12, 2009
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Roy takes victory in stage 5 of Paris-Nice
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Jeremy Roy, riding for FDJ, won the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice race on Thursday, a 204.0km ride from Annonay to Vallon Pont d'Arc, crossing the line in 4hr 58min 47sec.
Sylvain Chavanel of France, riding for Quick Step, retained the overall lead. "I really went for it. I gave it my all and it's a fantastic feeling," said Roy, who despite modestly indicating that "I'm not really a sprinter" won a race to the line following a breakaway which he launched just an hour into the stage to deny Frenchman Thomas Voeckler and Germany's Tony Martin.
For Roy, a 25-year-old from the western city of Tours, it was his first career win since he turned pro in 2003 and marked a reversal of fortunes after he ended Tuesday's fourth stage into Saint Etienne in last spot. German Heinrich Haussler led in the peloton some two minutes behind the leading group following the longest stage of the event which took place in bright sunshine.
 Chavanel held on the leaders jersey for another day but is likely to lose it tomorrow (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Friday's 182.5 km sixth stage will see the riders embark on a race to the only summit finish at Lure, the "Little Sister of the Ventoux", at an altitude of some 1600m and featuring 13.8 km climb at an average 6.6 percent gradient.
67th Paris-Nice, March 8-15, 2009
Stage 5, Annonay to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc: 204km
March 12, 2009
1. Jérémy Roy (FRA) Française Des Jeux 4.58.47 (40.966 km/h)
2. Thomas Voeckler (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom s.t.
3. Tony Martin (GER) Team Columbia - Highroad at 3sec
4. Heinrich Haussler (GER) Cervélo TestTeam at 2.33sec
5. Murilo Fischer (BRA) Liquigas s.t.
6. Romain Feillu (FRA) Agritubel s.t.
7. Cyril Lemoine (FRA) Skil-Shimano s.t.
8. Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) Silence-Lotto s.t.
9. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA) Lampre - NGC s.t.
10. Sébastien Hinault (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
General Classification After Stage 5
1. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 18.32.56
2. Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank at 6sec
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank at 36sec
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana s.t.
5. Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step at 37sec
6. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 45sec
7. David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream at 50sec
8. Antonio Colom (Spa) Team Katusha at 55sec
9. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha at 57sec
10. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank at 1.03
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