A mass escape

In the aftermath of the famous arrival at the summit of Mont Ventoux, the riders of the Paris-Nice 2008 found yet rugged terrain on Friday. The 5th stage of the Race to the Sun that this Friday, covered up to its name, in fact led the pack of Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron through four ribs (one of the second category and three from the 3rd category). A perfect route for the long-term escapes. And from the earliest kilometres, french riders showed they had ants in the legs. Alternately, Geslin, Bichot, Edaleine, Le Boulanger, Sprick, Pineau, Pauriol, Casar and Moreau are trying to get out of the pack during the first hour of racing. Pauriol, Pineau and Moreau, joined by Belgian Philippe Gilbert leaped in the right car after 40 km. Soon after, Cadel Evans, winner of the previous day and declared candidate for the final victory, took about twenty riders in his wheel to return to the quartet head. With 24 men in the front line, after a little more than 50 km, the good coup was gone. Barredo the hefty Decidedly far legs Friday, the French were among six in the breakaway (Moreau, Pineau, Pauriol, Rolland, Passeron and Goubert). A 100 km from Sisteron, the peloton took less Fringants of fugitives and only 17 riders remained in front. Atop the coast of Sault, after 75 km, the advance of this group was 1'15''. Under the leadership of Rabobank of the Yellow Jersey, Robert Gesink, the pack was trying to control the spread. But training Batavian was only to print the pace and fugitives would be up to 3'14''lead to 30 kilometres from the finish line. Anxious not to have to compete a bunched sprint to 17, five men set off in the attack. Moreau, Rolland, Mori, showed Kroon and Barredo and 40''advantage over their former comrades escaped to 15 kilometres to go. A few hundred metres away, Carlos Barredo, very comfortable throughout the afternoon, the attack bore final. Although out of the leading group, the Spanish of the Quick Step did not return to a speed of the greatest victory of his career. Four seconds later, Karsten Kroon settled the sprint of the small group, Christophe Moreau and Pierre Rolland finishing 4th and 5th. Arriving in the pack, 2'15'', Robert Gesink retains yellow jersey.