Armstrong retains overall lead

MONTARGIS, France -- Lance Armstrong retained the overall lead in the Tour de France when he cruised to a safe finish in Wednesday's fifth stage, won by Robbie McEwen of Australia.

Armstrong, going for a seventh straight Tour victory, crossed the finish in 45th place in a pack of riders that clocked the same time as McEwen -- 3 hours, 46 minutes -- for the 113.7-mile ride from Chambord to Montargis.

Armstrong has the yellow jersey for the 68th time.

The nervous pack of riders battled wind, intermittent rain and slick roads, and there were several crashes. CSC leader Ivan Basso, seen as a potential contender for a Tour victory, was a crash victim.

Armstrong took the yellow jersey Tuesday from fellow American David Zabriskie, a Team CSC rider who fell in a dramatic crash in the final moments of the stage. Armstrong started the day opting not to wear the leader's yellow jersey, citing "respect" for Zabriskie, but race officials stopped everybody before the start and asked Armstrong to wear it.

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Tour de France Results

Wednesday

Fifth Stage

Chambord to Montargis

113.7 miles from Chambord to Montargis

1. Robbie McEwen, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 3 hours, 46 minutes.

2. Tom Boonen, Belgium, Quick Step, same time.

3. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Credit Agricole, same time.

4. Stuart O'Grady, Australia, Cofidis, same time.

5. Angelo Furlan, Italy, Domina Vacanze, same time.

6. Allan Davis, Australia, Liberty Seguros, same time.

7. Bernhard Eisel, Austria, Francaise des Jeux, same time.

8. Baden Cooke, Australia, Francaise des Jeux, same time.

9. Jens Voigt, Germany, CSC, same time.

10. Robert Forster, Germany, Gerolsteiner, same time.

Also

21. Guido Trenti, United States, Quick Step, same time.

41. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, same time.

45. Lance Armstrong, United States, Discovery Channel, same time.

48. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, same time.

49. Manuel Beltran, Spain, Discovery Channel, same time.

56. Christopher Horner, United States, Saunier Duval, same time.

67. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Davitamon-Lotto, same time.

76. Paolo Savoldelli, Italy, Discovery Channel, same time.

77. Bobby Julich, United States, CSC, same time.

100. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Gerolsteiner, same time.

105. Floyd Landis, United States, Phonak, same time.

176. David Zabriskie, United States, CSC, same time.

Overall Standings

1. Lance Armstrong, United States, Discovery Channel, 13 hours, 45 minutes, 12 seconds.

2. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, 55 seconds behind.

3. Jens Voigt, Germany, CSC, 1:04 behind.

4. Bobby Julich, United States, CSC, 1:07.

5. Jose Luis Rubiera, Spain, Discovery Channel, 1:14.

6. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, 1:16.

7. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, T-Mobile, 1:21.

8. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 1:26.

9. David Zabriskie, United States, CSC, 1:26.

10. Ivan Basso, Italy, CSC, 1:26.

11. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Norway, CSC, 1:32.

12. Pavel Padrnos, Czech Republic, Discovery Channel, 1:32.

13. Paolo Savoldelli, Italy, Discovery Channel, 1:33.

14. Jan Ullrich, Germany, T-Mobile, 1:36.

15. Carlos Sastre, Spain, CSC, 1:36.

Also

20. Floyd Landis, United States, Phonak, 1:50.

30. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Gerolsteiner, 2:31.

69. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Davitamon-Lotto, 3:57.

102. Christopher Horner, United States, Saunier Duval, 4:54.

141. Guido Trenti, United States, Quick Step, 5:39.