Tour de France Capsules: Voeckler wins Tour 5th stage; Armstrong still 2nd

PERPIGNAN, France - Five years to the day after he put on the yellow jersey, Thomas Voeckler of France claimed his first stage victory in the Tour de France.

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the overall lead, with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong a fraction of a second behind after the fifth stage, a 122-mile ride along the windy Mediterranean Sea from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan.

Voeckler, who wore the coveted leader's jersey for nine days in 2004, made his move 3.1 miles from the finish Wednesday to escape a small breakaway. The Frenchman arrived at the line with tears in his eyes.

"I dedicate this victory to myself, my son and my wife, who actually didn't see me win as she was returning home in a plane," the 30-year-old Voeckler said.

Voeckler clocked 4 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds, seven seconds faster than the peloton that was barreling down on him. Mikhail Ignatiev of Russia was second ahead of Britain's Mark Cavendish, who won the peloton's sprint.

Armstrong finished in the main pack and retained second place overall, 19 seconds ahead of his rival and Astana teammate Alberto Contador. Former Tour runner-up Andreas Kloeden is fourth, 23 seconds back, and Levi Leipheimer of the United States is fifth, 31 seconds behind.

"It was an interesting day, because everyone anticipated the wind and knew that part of France is very windy, and they knew what happened two days ago, so everyone was more switched on," Armstrong said, referring to the breakaway that allowed him to overtake Contador in the standings on Monday. "I just stayed out of trouble and the guys looked good."

Voeckler is 138th overall, 6:48 behind Cancellara, and has almost no chance of winning.

"I don't think he is a fluke," Cancellara said. "It has been difficult for him because when he wore the jersey in 2004, a lot of people thought he was the new Bernard Hinault."

A five-time Tour de France winner, Hinault is the last Frenchman to win in 1985.

"I'm not one of the best riders in the world," Voeckler said. "I don't have the possibility to win a big Tour. But I'm still ambitious and I'm happy with my career so far."

With defending champion Carlos Sastre 2:44 back, two-time runner-up Cadel Evans lagging 2:59 behind and Denis Menchov 3:52 back, the Tour could come down to Armstrong and Contador.

"I told Alberto that today was going to be complicated, so maybe he sees that I know what is going on in the Tour de France," Armstrong said.

With the Pyrenees looming ahead on Friday, Armstrong didn't take any risk but had to ride in front of the peloton with his teammates on roads opened to strong winds. The American will face a tough test at the first hilltop finish Friday in Arcalis. There, he will have to answer a simple question: Does the cancer survivor still have the legs to climb?

"That's my question mark, that's your question mark, that's everybody's question mark," Armstrong said. "But we don't have to wait long until we'll find out, that's the good thing. I think I'll be good."

Voeckler, who broke his collarbone earlier this season, and five other riders - Ignatiev, Anthony Geslin, Yauheni Hutarovich, Marcin Sapa and Albert Timmer - were involved in the breakaway after 7½ miles.

With the wind blowing sideways along the Mediterranean see, the peloton pumped up the speed about 35 miles from the line behind the push of Saxo Bank and Columbia riders. The peloton ended up breaking into three pieces and riders were scattered, but none of the favorites were trapped except Giro d'Italia winner Menchov.

As the pace eased momentarily, the second peloton caught up with the first.

Cavendish and his Columbia teammates, following their disappointing fifth place in the team time trial, moved up to the front of the peloton, trying in vain to reduce the gap with the six breakaway riders.

Less than four miles from the finish, the leading group was reduced to four riders following an attack from Ignatiev, a track specialist making his Tour debut. Voeckler then bolted from a roundabout and went all out to the line.

Rising star Robert Gesink of the Netherlands, who was supposed to help Menchov in the mountains, withdrew after breaking his wrist in a crash, Tour doctors said.

The next stage Thursday is a 112-mile ride in Spain between Gerona and Barcelona. The stage features five small climbs and could favor one-day specialist.

Notebook: Armstrong, Leipheimer set for homecoming

PERPIGNAN, France - Lance Armstrong is among several riders who will have a homecoming of sorts during the sixth stage of the Tour de France, which heads south of the border Thursday from Gerona to Barcelona in Spain.

Many cyclists use Gerona as a base for training, near the Pyrenees Mountains. Armstrong lived there for five years, and said Wednesday it was a "second home."

Among other Astana riders, American Levi Leipheimer splits his time between Gerona and Santa Rosa, Calif., and Alberto Contador gets to return to Spain - though he's a native of Madrid.

"Always it is agreeable to return to your country and to (see) your relatives, because there will be many people coming to see me," Contador said in a statement Wednesday.

Leipheimer said he believes his friend Armstrong has a strong chance to win an eighth Tour this summer.

"His confidence has grown the last couple of days, being in the breakaway the other day and winning yesterday" with Astana in the team time trial, Leipheimer said. "Himself - and the rest of the team - have started to believe he can win the Tour."

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Cadel Evans' hopes for victory were handed a severe blow in the team time trial, but the Silence-Lotto team of the Australian two-time runner-up believes he still has a chance to wear yellow in Paris.

The Belgian team had a catastrophic ride on the outskirts of Montpellier on Tuesday, placing 13th - 2 minutes, 35 seconds behind Lance Armstrong's Astana squad.

Evans dropped to 35th overall, 2:59 behind race leader Fabian Cancellara and Armstrong - where he remains after the mostly flat fifth stage Wednesday from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan.

"Cadel didn't start this race to be a second fiddle, this is not over," Silence-Lotto sports director Marc Sergeant said. "He has already lost nearly three minutes but he's not the only one who suffered. ... We know that's going to be very difficult, but it's not over."

Evans finished the Tour in second place each of the last two years, beaten by Spaniards Alberto Contador in 2007 and Carlos Sastre last year.

"Astana put in a great ride, which puts me at 2:59 - not a position I wanted to be in," Evans said on his Web site. "Still close to guys like Andy Schleck and Carlos, but a long way behind the favorites of Astana. I certainly have my work cut out for me now."

Silence-Lotto didn't preview the team time trial stage, said French rider Mickael Delage. Jurgen Van Den Broeck crashed early in the stage and had to ride 22 miles alone.

Sergeant hopes the race won't be limited to a "Contador vs. Armstrong" battle.

"There is still more than two weeks racing ahead," he said. "Now, we have to ... seize our opportunities."

BORDRY ON GOOD TERMS

France anti-doping chief Pierre Bordry and the UCI are on good terms.

They were at odds last year following a feud between Tour organizers and the international cycling union. They now are working together and share an interest in catching drugs cheats.

"Up to now, I have been very satisfied by the way the UCI is handling the doping controls," Bordry said Wednesday. "They accept every request from us."

Last year, the French anti-doping agency AFLD ran drugs controls alone. The UCI is back to oversee testing this year but under a collaboration accord, the French anti-doping agency is able to target riders and to ask the UCI to test them.

Bordry said he had no criticism about the anti-doping checks so far this year.

TRIPLE FRACTURE

Piet Rooijakkers of the Skil-Shimano team underwent a seven-hour surgery in a Montpellier hospital after crashing in the team time trial Tuesday. The rider broke his left under arm in three places and his right ring finger.

The 28-year-old rider from the Netherlands will stay in hospital for two or three more days, his team said.

-- Jamey Keaten

A brief look at Wednesday's 5th stage of the Tour

PERPIGNAN, France - A brief look at Wednesday's fifth stage of the Tour de France:

Stage: A 122.1-mile trek from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan along the Mediterranean coast.

Winner: French rider Thomas Voeckler of the BBox Bouygues Telecom team, in 4 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds, in a solo finish.

Yellow Jersey: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who maintained his lead of a fraction of second over seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong.

Quote of the Day: "I told Alberto that today was going to be complicated, so maybe he sees that I know what is going on in the Tour de France" - Armstrong on teammate and potential title rival Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour winner.

Next stage: The sixth stage takes riders into Spain for a 112.8-mile ride across plains along Gerona to Barcelona.

Tour de France Results 

1. Thomas Voeckler, France, BBOX Bouygues Telecom, 4 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds.

2. Mikhail Ignatiev, Russia, Team Katusha, 7 seconds behind.

3. Mark Cavendish, Britain, Team Columbia-High Road, same time.

4. Tyler Farrer, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.

5. Gerald Ciolek, Germany, Team Milram, same time.

6. Danilo Napolitano, Italy, Team Katusha, same time.

7. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, same time.

8. Lloyd Mondory, France, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.

9. Oscar Freire, Spain, Rabobank, same time.

10. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Cervelo Test Team, same time.

11. Angelo Furlan, Italy, Lampre-NGC, same time.

12. Leonardo Duque, Colombia, Cofidis, same time.

13. Romain Feillu, France, Agritubel, same time.

14. Kenny Robert van Hummel, Netherlands, Skil-Shimano, same time.

15. Albert Timmer, Netherlands, Skil-Shimano, same time.

16. Koldo Fernandez, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, same time.

17. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, same time.

18. Yukiya Arashiro, Japan, BBOX Bouygues Telecom, same time.

19. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, same time.

20. Mark Renshaw, Australia, Team Columbia-High Road, same time.

24. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team Saxo Bank, same time.

34. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.

40. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-High Road, same time.

41. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.

59. Levi Leipheimer, Astana, same time.

126. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.

176. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:55.

1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team Saxo Bank, 15:07:49.

2. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.

3. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, :19.

4. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, :23.

5. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, :31.

6. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, :38.

7. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, Astana, :51.

8. Tony Martin, Germany, Team Columbia-High Road, :52.

9. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:06.

10. David Millar, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:07.

11. Sergio Paulinho, Portugal, Astana, 1:16.

12. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.

13. Gustav Larsson, Sweden, Team Saxo Bank, 1:22.

14. Maxime Montfort, Belgium, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:29.

15. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, 1:31.

16. Michael Rogers, Australia, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:32.

17. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:36.

18. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, same time.

19. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, same time.

20. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 1:41.

120. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 5:57.

169. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 11:07.

Tour de France Stages-Winners

July 4 - First Stage, Monaco_Monaco, individual time trial, 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) (stage: Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland; yellow jersey: Cancellara)

July 5 - Second Stage, Monaco_Brignoles, plain, 187 km (116.2) (Mark Cavendish, Britain; Cancellara)

July 6 - Third Stage, Marseille_La Grande-Motte, plain, 196.5 km (122.1) (Cavendish; Cancellara)

July 7 - Fourth Stage, Montpellier_Montpellier, team time trial, 39 km (24.2) (Astana; Cancellara)

July 8 - Fifth Stage, Le Cap d'Agde_Perpignan, plain, 196.5 km (122.1) (Thomas Voeckler, France; Cancellara)

July 9 - Sixth Stage, Gerona, Spain_Barcelona, plain, 181.5 km (112.8)

July 10 - Seventh Stage, Barcelona_Andorra Arcalis, Andorra, high mountain, 224 km (139.2)

July 11 - Eighth Stage, Andorra-la-Vieille_Saint-Girons, France, high mountain, 176.5 km (109.7)

July 12 - Ninth Stage, Saint-Gaudens_Tarbes, high mountain, 160.5 km (99.7)

July 13 - Rest Day, Limoges

July 14 - 10th Stage, Limoges_Issoudun, plain, 194.5 km (120.9)

July 15 - 11th Stage, Vatan_Saint-Fargeau, plain, 192 km (119.3)

July 16 - 12th Stage, Tonnerre_Vittel, plain, 211.5 km (131.4)

July 17 - 13th Stage, Vittel_Colmar, medium mountain, 200 km (124.3)

July 18 - 14th Stage, Colmar_Besancon, plain, 199 km (123.7)

July 19 - 15th Stage, Pontarlier_Verbier, Switzerland, high mountain, 207.5 km (128.9)

July 20 - Rest Day, Verbier

July 21 - 16th Stage, Martigny, Switzerland_Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, high mountain, 159 km (98.8)

July 22 - 17th Stage, Bourg-Saint-Maurice_Le Grand-Bornand, high mountain, 169.5 km (105.3)

July 23 - 18th Stage, Annecy_Annecy, individual time trial, 40.5 km (25.2)

July 24 - 19th Stage, Bourgoin-Jallieu_Aubenas, plain, 178 km (110.6)

July 25 - 20th Stage, Montelimar_Mont Ventoux, high mountain, 167 km (103.8)

July 26 - 21st Stage, Montereau-Fault-Yonne_Paris-Champs-Elysees, plain, 164 km (101.9)

Total: 3,459 kms (2,149.5 miles)