Tour of Britain 2010 stage five photo gallery by Andy Jones>>
Marco Frapporti (Colnago-CSF Inox) denied Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) a stage win in his home tour after escaping the clutches of the lead group within the final five kilometres of today's Tour of Britain stage to Glastonbury.
With Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Saxo Bank) in that lead group of seven, no one wanted to leave it to a sprint finish, but the target on Wiggins' back meant that he was going to have to come up with something special to ride away on his own.
The British time trial champion was, however, first to try, deciding to hit them with 15km still to go. With his time trialling pedigree well known, he wasn't given his freedom and was quickly brought back.
Daniel Martin (Garmin), once again at the front of the race all day, was next to try making his move with 10km to go. It was then that Frapporti saw his chance and went with the Irishman.
The move worked, but five kilometres later the pair's lead was only a handful of seconds. Then, as the Italian pushed on up a false flat, Martin faltered. It was little surprise after yesterday's efforts, but Frapporti was in no mood to wait.
The Colnago rider - a domestique given his freedom after his team leader Manuel Belletti pulled out - soloed to the line, finishing the stage with a 13 second advantage over Wiggins as the Brit gave his companions the slip and chased alone. On the line it was a further 19 seconds back to Haedo who lead in the fractured group.
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The bunch came in a further nine minutes back as HTC-Columbia had a relatively easy day of it today once the initial attacks over Dartmoor had let the break away group form.
The more structured nature of today's stage wasn't a bad thing considering they lost Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) to illness today. Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) was the other rider to climb off during the stage; and strangely did it while in the lead group.
The serious hills of the 2010 Tour of Britain may now be over, but that's not to say the depleted HTC-Columbia team won't struggle to hold the race together over the next two days.
They're now down to four riders, and two of those are sprinters. Lining up behind leader Michael Albasini (HTC-Columbia) is Saxo Bank's Richie Porte, Vaconsoleil's Borut Bozic and Johnny Hoogerland, and Sky's Greg Henderson.
If the wind blows over the next two days, there is still the chance for the yellow jersey to change hands. Thursday's sixth stage is a relatively flat excursion from King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth.
Results
Tour of Britain 2010, stage five: Tavistock to Glastonbury, 176km
1. Marco Frapporti (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox in 4-16-10
2. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 13 secs
3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank at 32 secs
4. Iker Camano (Esp) Endura at same time
5. Michael Golas (Pol) Vacansoleil at same time
6. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) AN Post-Sean Kelly at 50 secs
7. Dan Martin (Irl) Garmin-Transitions at 51 secs
8. Ronan Van Zandbeek (Ned) Skil-Shimano at 6-36
9. Pim Lighart (Ned) Vacansoleil at 9-18
10. Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen at same time
Overall classification after stage five
1. Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Columbia in 19-53-09
2. Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank at 1-28
3. Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil at 1-32
4. Greg Henderson (NZ) Team Sky at 1-36
5. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil at 1-42
6. Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) ISD-Neri Giambenini at 2-08
7. Christian Meier (Can) Garmin-Transitions at 2-30
8. Rob Partridge (GB) Endura at 2-32
9. Koen de Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano at 2-43
10. Marco Frapporti (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 3-36
11. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky at 5-38
Dartmoor on stage five
Race leader Michael Albasini
Bradley Wiggins heads the escape
Marco Frapporti wins in Glastonbury
Peloton come in
Tour of Britain 2010: Related links
Tour of Britain 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Stage four: Poels wins in Teignmouth
Stage three: Albasini wins in Swansea
Stage two: Henderson in yellow as Team Sky take charge
Stage one: Greipel takes opener
Tour of Britain 2010: Latest news
Cobbles of Constitution Hill awaiting Tour of Britain
Thomas takes positives from race opener
Tour of Britain riders get ready: in pictures
Tour of Britain set for Scotland start in 2011
Tour of Britain 2010: Start list
Team Sky go green for Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain 2010 route revealed
Tour of Britain 2010: Photos
Stage four gallery by Andy Jones
Stage three gallery by Andy Jones
Stage two gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one gallery by Andy Jones
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