Italian Alessandro Petacchi won today's fifth stage of the Tour de France, a 196.5-km journey from Troyes to Nevers. It is his third stage victory of the 2003 Tour.
Winner of Sunday's first stage in Meaux and Tuesday's third in St Dizier, Petacchi beat Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu and Australian Baden Cooke on the line.
Victor Hugo Pena, the first Colombian ever to lead the Tour, retained the yellow jersey and will wear it going into tomorrow's 230-kms sixth stage to Lyon.
His team leader, Lance Armstrong, who bids for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory, is still second overall, one second behind Pena.