Stage 5 is another day for the sprinters. It's not a very challenging course even at 185 km long. So far we've seen both of the big favourites take one win each. Can one of them edge ahead or can someone upset the big guns?
First attack of the day comes from Wildauer and Guglielmi.
The peloton weren't happy with 8 riders up the road, so through the work of ISA - Hexacta and MOL have brought everyone back.
After a couple more tries a breakaway of 5 riders including Groselj, Townsend, Kolesnikov, Kortsidakis and Serrano was formed.
Almost 50 km into the race the breakaway passes the first intermediate sprint as they have a gap of 4'33'' over the peloton.
There is no interest in KOM points either as we can see the peloton now 3'09'' behind. 103 km remaining.
Going through the 2nd intermediate sprint with 70 km to go we see the same teams as we've seen in all the flat stages. Aegon, ISA - Hexacta and MOL are doing the chasing. The gap is at 2'41''.
We are through the final sprint point and the gap is now 2'19'' with 55 km to go. Looks like this breakaway won't be successful either.
Still some work to do though. We fast forward to the final 7 km and the breakaway still holds 35'' over the chasing peloton. We also have some rare rain in Morocco right now.
3 km to go and the breakaway is still holding on. Can they actually make it?! We see Degenkolb is at the front in his green jersey and has plenty of support. The other sprinters though aren't quite well positioned.
Degenkolb is now on his final helper as they are still more than a km from the finish. The other sprinters have all now managed to line up after the German.
Excellent leadout though from Contreras as he releases his leader in the final 500 m. There are still 4 breakaway riders in front. Behind it's Lo Cicero and Vingerling sprinting, Groenewegen coming into the picture late.
Oh yeah what timing and speed from Degenkolb! He beats everyone on the line just in time! ISA - Hexacta played this beautifully.
Kortsidakis and Serrano complete the podium. I guess we can call this breakaway a success. Vingerling is 4th, another breakaway survivor Kolesnikov 5th, Groenewegen 6th, Groselj 7th and Lo Cicero 8th.
Again no changes in GC with Olivier still leading. Degenkolb though really strengthens his hold on the green jersey with his 2nd stage win. The KOM and U25 ranking leaders remain unchanged.
Tour du Maroc - Stage 5 
