Voeckler’s breakaway bags maiden stage victory

FRENCHMAN Thomas Voeckler dashed clear of a long-time six-man breakaway group in the final five kilometres to win the fifth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

The Bouygues Telecom rider left rivals Anthony Geslin, Marcin Sapa, Mikhail Ignatiev, Yauheni Hutarovitch and Albert Timmer for dead late on to claim glory following a 196.5km jaunt from Le Cap d’Agde to Perpignan.