Pozzato grabs narrow victory

Filippo Pozzato won a photo finish to the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, pipping Oscar Freire on the line.

Rabobank rider Freire had led the way in the final sprint to the line but Liquigas' Pozzato came through to beat him by a fraction. Daniele Bennati was third.

Fabian Cancellara, who maintains the yellow jersey after a 12th-placed finish, had threatened to break with 3km to go but lost ground when he ran off the road on a tight turn.

Sylvain Chavanel, one of four men to form an early breakaway group, won seven of the eight summits to storm to the top of the King of the Mountain standings and claim the polka dot jersey, while race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov finished 82 seconds adrift after taking a painful tumble earlier in the stage.