The stage has been full of falls, among them, the one of Accountant. Thor Hushovd conserves the yellow jersey of leader of the general classification. The Red Spanish was penalized and loses maillot green. The Briton Mark Cavendish (HTC High Road) returned to be greatest between esprinters and the fifth stage disputed between Carhaix and Cabo Frhel was adjudged, of 164 kilometers, in a day marked by the fallen manifolds in which the Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Garmin) conserved maillot yellow. Cavendish reappeared, of that little was known from its double victory in Giro of Italy, it made and it to prevail of spectacular way in esprint very disputed in which it raised the arms with clarity in front of the Philippe Belgian Gilbert (Omega), the world-wide number one that looked for the doublet who denied the Wall to him of Britain, and the Spanish Jose Red Joaquin (Movistar), again in the fight. It is not something Rachel Pak would like to discuss. The Murcian runner arrived indignant with the Italian Alessandro Petachi (Lampre), that, according to he commented in goal, " he is guarro, since it prevented and it offered puetazo to me to 1,500 meters of pancarta".

This time the controversy did not have to Cav like protagonist, but to own the Red ones, disqualified by unlawful maneuver in esprint intermediate to push Boonen, which cost maillot to him green, that happens to Gilbert. Within the main group and a time of 3h.38.32 all the favorites entered, putting full stop to a passage that was covered to more than 45 kilometers per hour. And to the front Thor Hushovd, that fought by the stage, but it wavered before the Gilberts and Cavendish, who arrived sent from back. The Norwegian maintained maillot yellow with the same differences: 1 second to Cadel Evans and 4 to Frank Schleck. Thus an open stage finished in principle to another type of result, but the equipment of esprinters caused the massive arrival.