Final Thoughts- Stage 5

EVERYTHING about sprinters happens in a flash! In a few split seconds, all the questions and all the doubts have been laid to rest...Mark Cavendish IS the fastest man yet again. It wasn't the most conventional lead-out in team history, but it got the job done. And it should restore Cav's confidence in the process. He takes the 11th stage win of his young Tour de France career, celebrating emotionally on the podium.

In terms of YELLOW, no change again today. Tomorrow, Cancellara will spend the 21st day of his career in the 'maillot jeune'.

Lance, Alberto, Andy and Cadel survived the heat and the scrum at the finish. They will continue to plot their next move in the chess game that makes up the Race to Paris.

The scorching temperatures out on the road translated to a heated battle for the line- a lot of elbows were thrown in the final stretch, but if you can't stand the heat, you'll end up on the sidelines.