Frenchman Thomas Voeckler gave the host country its first victory in this year's Tour de France, winning the nearly 200-kilometre-long fifth stage from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan on his own.

Russian Mikhail Ignatiev finished in second place just ahead of  Mark Cavendish, who retained the sprinters' green jersey. Dutchman Albert Timmer looked like he had a chance of crossing the line in the top three, but was overtaken by the main peloton just before the finish. Race leader Fabio Cancellara finished in the main pack with Lance Armstrong and so retained his yellow jersey.

Dutchman Robert Gesink came in ten minutes after the winner after a nasty crash. But it seems the race is over for the Rabobank rider - doctors discovered his wrist was broken and will be flown back to the Netherlands on Thursday, where he'll be admitted to hospital. It was Gesink's first Tour - he was seen as a rising Dutch cycling star. He was expected to do well in the mountainous stages.

Thursday's stage six sees the cyclists go to Spain for the southernmost stage with a 181.5 kilometre route from Gerona to Barcelona.

photo Thomas Voeckler by golan (Flickr)