Spain's Freire frustrates Boonen to take stage win

Spaniard Oscar Freire deprived Tom Boonen of his first win in this year's Tour de France when he outsprinted the world champion to clinch the fifth stage yesterday.

The Rabobank rider surged down the right of the finishing straight to surprise the Belgian who retained his overall leader's yellow jersey.

The Quick Step rider enjoys a 13-second lead over Australian Michael Rogers of the T-Mobile team.

Spain's Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel) finished third on the 225-km stage from Beauvais to Caen.

Australian Robbie McEwen failed to find his rhythm in the mass sprint, finishing fifth to keep his green sprinters' jersey.

Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) and Bjoern Schroeder of Germany (Milram) took off from the peloton after some 20 kms. They opened a 12-minute gap after the main pack was forced to lower the pace when it went through the first rain showers of the race in Normandy's bocage.

The Credit Agricole, Davitamon-Lotto and Quick Step teams started their pursuit 30 kms from the finish and caught the two fugitives with less than 5 km to go.

Today's sixth stage will take the peloton over 189 kms from Lisieux to Vitre as the Tour enters Brittany.