Tour of California Stage 5: Seaside > Paso Robles, 223.6kms (Photos by Will Swetnam)

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Jens Voigt is starting things off early with an attack...
AToC Stage 5 VOIGT leopard
It is Horner's first day in the Gold Jersey, his team will fight hard today to defend it.
AToC Gold Jersey HORNER RadioShack Stage 5
...and they're doing it from the front today as they descend... a break is up the road.
AToC HORNER RadioShack SCENERY Stage 5
The peloton seems to be enjoying the scenery as they cross a bridge.
AToC BRIDGE PELOTON SCENERY Stage 5
The escape of 10 climbs along the edge of the valley. Freire is among the mix of pro tour riders, can this be the day an escape wins?
AToC ESCAPE SCENERY Stage 5
The peloton, now just over two minutes behind, climbs the same hill...
AToC Stage 5
Horner was well protected all day by his team today...
AToC Gold Jersey RadioShack Stage 5
The escape worked well together, building their lead to over three minutes at this point.
AToC Stage 5
The peloton begins to string out with RadioShack's pace making.
AToC PELOTON SCENERY Stage 5
The bicycles behind seem to be in the same formation as the riders of the escape.
AToC Stage 5. escape
It has been nice to finally enjoy some of the fine California weather...
AToC ESCAPE SCENERY Stage 5
But the pace of the peloton is causing some issues in the peloton. Gustave Larsson and Ben Jacques-Maynes get into an ambulance after crashing just after a narrow bridge.
AToC BISSELL Ben JacquesMaynes Larson SAXO Stage 5 ambulance injury
Dowsett has also been involved in a crash today...
AToC Dowsett Stage 5 injuries sky
Martin is giving it his all to keep the break away... Garmin is under some pressure for results in this race for their US sponsors.
AToC Daniel Martin ESCAPE GARMIN Stage 5
The gap is steady at three minutes, we're down to just 40 km or so to go in this longest stage of the race - 217km on tap today.
AToC CLIMBING ESCAPE Stage 5
The peloton is strung out in pursuit of the escape...
AToC PELOTON SCENERY Stage 5
Damiani of Kenda 5-Hour Energy presses on, he too has hit the pavement.
AToC Damiani Kenda 5Hour Energy Stage 5 injuries
Horner still looks at ease, sheltered by his team.
AToC Gold Jersey HORNER RadioShack Stage 5
The peloton is strung out from the descent after the last KOM as it crosses a resivoir dam.
AToC PELOTON SCENERY Stage 5 dam
Liquigas has turned up the pace, the want to add to Sagan's lead in the sprinters competition.
AToC CHASE Liquigas PELOTON Stage 5
It is just Freire and Denifl left now from the original escape, they still have over 2 minutes on the peloton...
AToC Denifl RABOBANK Stage 5 escap frieire leopard
Denifil has crashed, just Freire remains...
AToC ESCAPE FREIRE RABOBANK Stage 5
The peloton will soon disintegrate under the pressure of RadioShack and Liquigas.
AToC PELOTON Stage 5
The peloton has caught the escape within 10 km of the finish. Peter Sagan has won the day convincingly!
AToC Liquigas Sagan Stage 5 Stage Winner
Horner retains the golden jersey of race leader, can he maintain it during tomorrows TT?
AToC Gold Jersey HORNER PODIUM RadioShack Stage 5