(Phil Wrochna is managing editor of firstoffthebike.com and Radio SEN's cycling commentator. He will file Touroscopy for BPL on each day of the Tour.)

The Tour de France goes on whatever the weather. From the rain of Stage One to the sun of Stage Five, the riders have seen it all. Temperatures in the 30s greeted the riders for their 187.5 km jaunt from Epernay to Montargis. With weather like that, the domestiques were busy ferrying water the the team leaders. The pace was calm for the most of the day, with the bunch content to let a breakaway establish.

The talk before the stage was the rise to form of Alessandro Petacchi and the lack of speed showed by England's Mark Cavendish. Speculation as to what was going through the mind of Cavendish was rife because the quickest man in the peloton was not having a happy ride in this year's Tour de France. A win in Stage Five would be a cure all.

The day itself was rather pedestrian day for the bunch. The riders flexed their muscle on the road into Montargis after a day of riding tempo. The bunch was nervous as they made the catch of the breakaway and then proceeded to set up for the sprint. After a flat day there was plenty of punch left in the peloton and the sprint was another battle with the man they call the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish, finally getting his stage win.

Who's Hot

Mark Renshaw - Australia's Mark Renshaw has ice running through his veins. When the other teams were setting up for the sprint yesterday Renshaw remained calm as he surgically cut his way through the peloton and delivered his man to finish who this time repaid him.

Mark Cavendish - Cavendish finally got his win. After a horror start to his Tour Cavendish made the move off the wheel of the best lead out man in the world, Mark Renshaw. The speed of the Manx Missile was true to his old form, too, and we can rightly say that he is back.

The Lance Armstrong team car - This is an annual event for the some of the biggest names in the world. Last season the likes of Jimmy Buffet, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller were seen in the team car. This year the first big name has appeared as the Radio Shack team hosted Prince Albert of Monaco.

Who's Not

Robbie McEwen - McEwen is in good form but a crash earlier in the week and treatment with tetanus medication has left him flat. He posted this after Stage Five: "Just found out I'm probably allergic to tetanus meds. They gave me a shot after crash - no wonder I feel so sh**".

Team Garmin Transitions - They have two very handy sprinters in Tyler Farrar and Julian Dean on the their team. With Farrar injured and Dean not in the sprint today they can't buy a win.

The road ahead ...

For the peloton they are headed from Montargis to Gueugnon a distance of 227.5 km. This is the longest day in the this year's Tour de France. The stage is a little hilly and will suit the escape artists. The big sprinters' teams might not make the gap on this one.

Results of Stage 5

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia   4:30:50

Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team

Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom

Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha

Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale

Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions

General Classification after Stage 5

Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank   22:59:45

Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:23

Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:39

Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:00:46

Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 0:01:01

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:09

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 0:01:19

Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:01:31

Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:01:40

Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:42

Points Classification (Green Jersey)

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team   102   pts

Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 88

Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 81

Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 73

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team 64

Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)

Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step   13   pts

Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 8

Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 8

Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step 6

Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia 5