Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) came close to taking his third Tour de France stage win on the fifth day of action, but was edged into second place by Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) after a flat-out finish in Marseille.

The Norwegian – who wrapped up a brace of victories in 2011 – worked his way into contention as the 228.5km trek from Cagnes-sur-Mer reached its conclusion, and even though he latched onto Cavendish’s wheel on the closing straight, he didn’t possess sufficient power to go around the Manxman who battled on for the 24th Tour stage win of his career.

Peter Sagan (Cannondale) took the remaining place on the podium.

After the stage Boasson Hagen acknowledged Cavendish’s superiority in flat-out sprint decisions.

“Mark is in a league of his own,” Hagen told Norwegian newspaper VG. “I finished second today and I have to be pleased with that when Mark is the winner, even though nobody remembers a runner-up. However, it does prove that I have some sprinting abilities.”