Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Leopard) raced home alone to take a thrilling victory on day five of the Tour of California, breaking clear just over five km from the finish of the stage to Avila Beach.

Quickly creating a gap and then increasing his advantage as the chasers dithered, the charismatic and often outspoken German powered home six seconds ahead of Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp), Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team), Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) and ten others who formed a select group.

In doing so, he picked up his first victory since a stage win in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge last August, and showed that even at the age of 41 he still has the ambitions and strength to break clear and keep a chasing pack at arm’s length.

Crosswinds played a huge role on the stage and several riders lost out when they were caught sleeping by echelons sparked off by Voigt and his RadioShack Leopard team with 55km to go. Those who finished in the peloton included overall leader Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Jamis - Hagens Berman) and third-placed Philip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare), and despite hard chasing by their teams, they would reach the line one minute seven seconds back.

As a result, Acevedo dropped to third, 50 seconds back, while Deignan is a further two places and 27 seconds down.

Both had hoped to take their previous positions into tomorrow’s time trial, but will instead be scrabbling to try to make up for their loss today.

Voigt crossed the finish to huge cheers. Behind, Hushovd beat Farrar and Sagan for second. Van Garderen finished safely in this group, while the yellow jersey bunch rolled in over a minute back. This ensured the BMC Racing Team rider lost his race lead, dropping to third, and Philip Deignan (United Healthcare) slipped from third to fifth.

Result, stage 5:

1. Jens Voigt (RadioShack Leopard) 186 kilometres in 4 hours 41 mins 16 secs
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) at 6 secs
3. Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team)
4. Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
5. Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge)
6. Jay McCarthy (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
7. Alexander Candelario (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
8. Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff)
9. Markel Irizar Aranburu (RadioShack Leopard)
10. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)

General classification after stage 5:

1. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) 21 hours 55 mins 32 secs
2. Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 42”
3. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Jamis - Hagens Berman) 50”
4. Matthew Busche (RadioShack Leopard)  1’ 4”
5. Philip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) 1’17”
6. Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) 1’ 29”
7. Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team) 1’ 35”
8. Francisco Mancebo Perez (5 Hour Energy p/b Kenda) 1’ 53”
9. Chad Haga (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) 2’ 3”
10. Lawson Craddock (Bontrager Cycling Team) 2’ 22”