03.12 - Paris-Nice: Stage 5

The rapid start in Provence is hurting even the great ones - Yaroslav Popovych drops back on the Cote de Mormoron

Chris Horner is in better shape but his bike needs a quick fix...

HORNERSHACKMECHANICPARISNICE

Dmitri Champion is one of many riders trying to get away - but the Champion of France can not get away today...

Alberto Contador can just sit back and watch everyone else race...

CONTADORPARISNICE

Pierrick Fedrigo tries a move for BBox and France - and get's nowhere...

The race has slowed up just in time to admire the splendour of Gordes in Provence...

SCENERYGORDESPARISNICE

Bonnieux is the next Provençal village to greet Paris-Nice...

SCENERYBONNIEUXPARISNICE

Finally, after a mere 95-kilometres, an escape has got away, led by Sylvain Calzati...

CALZATISKYESCAPEPARISNICE

Rein Taaramae is chasing and will join-in soon...

TAARAMAEESCAPEPARISNICE

Kevin Seeldraeyers is leading a quartet of pursuers at 40-seconds...

SEELDRAEYERSESCAPEPARISNICE

Taamarae leads his quartet towards the final 40-kilometres - they have one minute over the peloton which is chasing down the counter-attack...

TAARAMAEESCAPEPARISNICE

Astana has taken the day off and let Euskatel and Caisse do their work on behalf of Spain and Contador...

Carlos Barredo leads the escape nto the last 25-kilometres - Taamarae has dropped back now...

Nicholas Roche is leading an AG2R rush on the front of the peloton - the escape is over and there's panic behind the leading group...

AG2RROCHESPEEDPARISNICE

AG2R's pace has shelled riders like Casar, Leipheimer and Voeckler out of the group...

AG2RSPEEDPARISNICE

Peter Sagan wins stage five after an amazing attack two-kilometres from the end - what a rising star!

SAGANLIQUIGASPARISNICE

David Millar's face says it all - this was a very fast, very hard day..!

MILLARPARISNICE

Wink, wink - Alberto Contador knows he's on to a good result in Paris-Nice...

CONTADORPARISNICE