McEwen outsprints Boonen

Australian Robbie McEwen outsprinted Belgium's Tom Boonen to win the fifth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

Boonen, the winner of two stages already, had to be content with second place at the end of the day's relatively flat 183-km ride from Chambord.

Norway's Thor Hushovd took third place.

McEwen, regarded as Boonen's main rival in the sprints, crossed the line in third at the end of Monday's third stage but was stripped of his place for headbutting fellow Australian Stuart O'Grady in the sprint.

Lance Armstrong came in with the pack to retain the race leader's yellow jersey he was reluctantly wearing.

The American had not wanted to wear yellow as a mark of respect for compatriot David Zabriskie, who lost the overall lead after crashing at the end of Tuesday's team trial.

Armstrong, heading the Discovery Channel Team in his bid for a seventh Tour win, was told by organisers to don the jersey- having arrived at the start line wearing his team colours.