Russian Aliaksandr Kuchynski of Katusha appears to be consolidating his grasp upon the center of the peloton, holding onto one of Les Cuspides for the general classification a day after nabbing the first Point d’Appui in the Tour de France. He shares the middle with Davide Vigano of Lampre-ISD, both of them 7:02 behind the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellara.

On a day when the whole field came home with the same time, it’s hardly worth mentioning the stage results, but the sake of order: Frederico Canuti of Liquigas-Cannondale and Ruben Plaza of Movistar finished as Les Cuspides of Stage 5.

About 40 kilometers into Stage 5, Marcel Kittel of Argos-Shimano abandoned the race with stomach problems he has endured since the beginning. His loss leaves 194 riders. Brice Feillu still holds onto the Lanterne Rouge.