27th Tour Méditerranéen

France, February 9-13, 2000

Stage 5 - February 12: La Londe - Toulon Mont Faron, 148 km

Laurent Jalabert not only managed to keep his race lead in the Tour of the Mediterranean, but increased it after he won the traditional 5th stage decider from La Londe to Mount Faron, Toulon today. Barring misfortune tomorrow, he will win his first stage race for the year in Marseilles.

The main attack of the stage came from French rider, Cristophe Bassons (Jean Delatour), who escaped on the first climb of the day - the Col de Gratteloup. He gained up to five minutes at one stage before he was reeled in half way at the Col des Fourches. At this point, there was a major crash in the peloton, splitting the group into two. Left behind where riders such as Richard Virenque who finished in the second group. Two cyclists were injured in the crash - Christophe Rinero (Cofidis) and the unlucky Dane, Rolf Sørensen (Rabobank) who were both taken to hospital in Hyères.

Following this, the riders from the Credit Agricole team tried to attack Jalabert before Mount Faron in order to unsettle him and his ONCE squad. They had O'Grady and Voigt amongst others who were within three seconds of the Frenchman. But, the Spanish team were up to the task and succeeded in keeping things together for the final climb.

On the climb, only Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) could follow, and tried attacking Jalabert several times. The Frenchman was too strong and dropped Rebellin in the last kilometer. In third place was David Moncoutie, of Cofidis.

Tomorrow's final stage will run from La Seyne to Marseilles (125 km), and should see the world number 1 win the 27th edition of this race.

Results

1 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE         	       3.48.58
2 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas-Pata        	  0.15
3 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis         	  0.20
4 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step        0.23
5 Andreï Kivilev (Kaz) Ag2R-Prevoyance              
6 François Simon (Fra) Bonjour          	  0.27
7 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin             0.31
8 Bobby Julich (USA) Credit Agricole    	  0.38
9 Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step              0.48
10 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank           	  0.56

General classification after stage 5: 

1 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE                 11.55.14
2 Bobby Julich (USA) Credit Agricole              0.51
3 Jonathan Vaughters (USA)  Credit Agricole       1.09
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas-Pata             1.16
5 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step        1.20
6 Andreï kivilev (Kaz) Ag2R-Prevoyance            1.30
7 Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step              1.45
8 Abraham Olano (Esp) ONCE                        1.55
9 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo              2.05
10 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step        2.14