VALLON PONT D’ARC, France, March 12, 2009 – Jeremy Roy, riding for FDJ, won the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice race here on Thursday, a 204.0km ride from Annonay to Vallon Pont d’Arc, crossing the line in 4hr 58min 47sec.

Sylvain Chavanel of France, riding for Quickstep, retained the overall lead.

“I really went for it. I gave it my all and it’s a fantastic feeling,” said Roy, who despite modestly indicating that “I’m not really a sprinter” won a race to the line following a breakaway which he launched just an hour into the stage to deny Frenchman Thomas Voeckler and Germany’s Tomy Martin.

For Roy, a 25-year-old from the western city of Tours, it was his first career win since he turned pro in 2003 and marked a reversal of fortunes after he ended Tuesday’s fourth stage into Saint Etienne in last spot.

German Heinrich Haussler led in the peloton some two minutes behind the leading group following the longest stage of the event which took place in bright sunshine.

Friday’s 182.5 km sixth stage will see the riders embark on a race to the only summit finish at Lure – the “Little Sister of the Ventoux” – at an altitude of some 1600m and featuring 13.8 km climb at an average 6.6 percent gradient.

Peloton At Paris Nice Stage 5

Jeremy Roy Takes The Win At Paris Nice Stage 5

Photo’s by: CorVos Pro