Greipel to the fore once again

German sprinter Andre Greipel won at the Tour de France for a second successive day with victory on stage five to Saint-Quentin.

World champion Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) was back in the saddle following a heavy crash on stage four and was in contention in the 196.5-kilometre fifth stage from Rouen to Saint-Quentin.

But Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) timed his dart for the line well to triumph ahead of Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge), with Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff) third and Cavendish fourth.

Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, with Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) second, seven seconds behind, and defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) remaining seventh, 17 seconds adrift.

For the second successive day Cavendish was denied the opportunity to draw level with Lance Armstrong and Andre Darrigade on 22 stage wins.

Matthieu Ladagnous led the Tour at the intermediate sprint, 87.5km from the end of the day's route, leaving the first rider of the peloton 11 points to claim.

With support from Team Sky colleagues Bernhard Eisel and Edvald Boasson Hagen, Cavendish won the dash for the intermediate sprint line.

Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) was one place behind Cavendish in sixth, with Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) seventh and Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) eighth.

Jan Ghyselinck opened up a clear advantage in a technical, uphill finish. He was overhauled as the peloton caught up and Greipel was able to power away to victory, with Cavendish among those left in his wake.

Sagan finished the day on 155 points and still in the green jersey, with Goss second on 137, Greipel third on 132 and Cavendish fourth on 119.