The fifth Tour stage was announced as a sprint stage. The peloton had to cover 189.5 kilometres between Arras and Amiens on a course without any hills. The wind could be an extra factor in that region. It did play its role, but eventually the stage ended with a bunch sprint. André Greipel won the stage and reinforced his lead of the points classification. It’s already the second stage win for the Gorilla this Tour.

Two riders attacked in the beginning of the stage. Edet and Périchon joined forces at first. But not much later Edet waited for the peloton. Périchon continued on his own. The Frenchman got caught in the middle of the stage, just after the intermediate sprint. Greipel won the sprint of the peloton and gained seventeen points.

After that the peloton split in two due to the wind. The first group consisted of about one hundred riders, the second group never returned. In the first group nobody tried to get away and the teams could prepare for a bunch sprint. Greipel was the strongest. With 350 metres to go he was a bit boxed in, but could still make his way to the front.

Because of the victory he got another fifty points and tomorrow he’ll wear the green jersey for the fourth day in a row. Tony Gallopin falls back one place on GC and is now fifth at 38 seconds of leader Tony Martin.

“With 350 metres to go I didn’t look so good, I was a bit boxed in," he said. "But when I got more space, I gave all I got. It was a tough finish, the kilometre before the last five hundred metres wasn’t completely flat and there was a headwind.

"I think it was a pure sprint. There was no lead-out for any of us, it was man to man. Sagan moved up quickly at the left, I hadn’t seen him, but it’s the result at the finish line that counts.

"It was an interesting sprint because none of the top sprinters had any of their lead-out men to lead the sprint for them in the final 300 metres. You had to improvise a little bit. I looked for an opening and saw there was one on the left. I was a bit far off at the 300 metres but I was lucky to still have the strength to pull it off. It was interesting.

“You have the fast-twitching muscles or you don’t have them. I think my parents did a good job as I have some fast-twitching muscles.

“I could count on a strong Marcel Sieberg again, who perfectly led me to the front; he is in the shape of his life. Also Tony Gallopin and Lars Bak did more than just their job. Because of the injuries of Adam [Hansen] and Greg [Henderson] we had to change our strategy, but the team was strong as always. As a sprinter it’s a luxury to have such a dedicated team.

“Because of my result at the intermediate sprint and the stage win I took important points for the green jersey classification. It’s the first time I’m in this situation, but on the moments that I can I will fight for the points. We always said that green could only be an option after a stage win.

“The focus is to go for stage wins. We won already two now. I’m still ahead [in the points classification], even if it’s not such a big difference between [Peter] Sagan and me. I’m pretty sure Sagan will on the hilly days get more points than me.

"Tomorrow the wind will make it another nervous stage and the finish in Le Havre is probably too hard for sprinters. But I won’t worry about that before tomorrow."

After twelve kilometres Thomas De Gendt crashed. He has a broken rib and a bruised shoulder. For Lotto Soudal this is the third rider with a severe injury. Tomorrow morning it will be decided whether De Gendt starts or not.

Adam Hansen felt a bit better today after the dislocation of the AC joint between his shoulder and collarbone which he incurred on Sunday. For Greg Henderson it was another day of suffering at the back of the bunch.