Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Michal Golas waited for the right moment to launch his sprint as he made a select group of about 15 riders in the final kilometers of 177.1km Tour of Britain Stage 5 on Thursday.

As riders contesting the GC launched attack after attack, and Sky ProCycling led the chase to protect race leader Bradley Wiggins, Golas made sure he stayed with the pace in the pack to save his legs for the final.

As the peloton caught the final attack with 1.6km to go until the finish in Caerphilly, Golas started to move to the front. Golas worked his way to the front of the group in the final few hundred meters and launched his sprint first. Sam Bennett (An Post - Chainreaction) was able to beat him in a close sprint. Elmiger was 3rd.

"I didn't do any mistakes, and it went well in the final," Golas said. "I was in a good gear, and when we came out from the corner I was in the 2nd position. I started sprinting and everything was perfect, but suddenly Bennett came from behind and passed with more speed than me. It was simply him being too fast. It's a pity because I was targeting this stage and I was looking for my first win of the season. But OK, the condition is there for sure. Tomorrow's stage is a bit more hilly than today, but we will do our best for another good result. Now I am 5th in the GC as well, so I must defend a bit my position.”