LONDON, Sept 15, 2011 – Australia’s Mark Renshaw stepped out of the shadow of HTC-Highroad teammmate Mark Cavendish to win the fifth stage of the Tour of Britain on Thursday.

Dutchman Lars Boom, of Rabobank, retained the race leader’s jersey after an aggressive 180 km race from Exeter to Exmouth in south-west England.

Despite being a sprinter in his own right Renshaw has spent the past three seasons as Cavendish’s lead-out man for the bunch sprints, and in doing so been key in many of the Isle of Man rider’s 20 stage wins on the Tour de France.

Renshaw will race for Rabobank next season, and showed the Dutch outfit he can fight his own battles when he finished ahead of Cavendish, German Robert Forster and Welshman Geraint Thomas in a bunch sprint at Exmouth’s seafront finish.

The Tour of Britain, which finishes Sunday, continues Friday with stage six from Taunton to Wells.

Stage Five, Exeter to Exmouth Brief Result
1 Mark Renshaw (Aus, HTC Highroad) 04:17:38
2 Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad) st
3 Robert Förster (Ger, UnitedHealthcare) st
4 Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky ProCycling) st
5 Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post – Sean Kelly) st
6 Mathew Hayman (Aus, Sky ProCycling) st
7 Zak Dempster (Aus, Rapha Condor Sharp) st
8 Stijn Neirynck (Bel, Topsport Vlaanderen) st
9 Daniel Schorn (Aut, Team NetApp) st
10 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita, Leopard Trek) st

Overall General Classification, after Stage Five
1 Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 16:54:29
2 Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky ProCycling) @ 0:12
3 Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare) @ 0:14
4 Daniel Lloyd (GB, Garmin – Cervelo) @ 0:16
5 Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek) @ 0:17
6 Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint) @ 0:19
7 Jelle Wallays (Bel, Topsport Vlaanderen) st
8 Stephen Cummings (GB,Sky ProCycling) st
9 Jan-Bert Lindeman (Ned, Vacansoleil – DCM) st

The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Classification, after Stage Five
1 Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky ProCycling) 41pts
1 Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad) 40pts
3 Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 37pts
4 Mark Renshaw (Aus, HTC Highroad) 29pts

Skoda King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Five
1 Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp) 54pts
2 Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized) 44pts
3 Thomas De Gendt (Bel, Vacansoleil – DCM) 25pts
= Stephen Cummings (GB, Sky ProCycling) 25pts
5 Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek) 20pts

Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Five
1 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post – Sean Kelly) 33pts
2 Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized) 13pts
3 Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post – Sean Kelly) 10pts
4 Jack Bauer (NZ, Endura Racing) 9pts
5 Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare) 8pts

UNISON Best Young Rider
1 Jelle Wallays (Bel, Topsport Vlaanderen)

Combativity Award: Kristian House (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp)