T-Mobile rode a very tight 38KM Time Trial yesterday, just missing out on the top spot when fifth rider Matthias Kessler was dropped with 300 metres to go. However, they came in a close second, placing Sergei Gontchar (T-Mobile) in the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia on stage 5.

CSC took the Piacenza to Cremona stage win with a time of 36 minutes and 56 seconds and The Discovery Channel came in third at 37:35.

After 5 stages and one rest day, Stefan Schumacher has swapped his overall lead for eighth place, 31 seconds behind Gontchar.

Meanwhile, Pettachi has had the operation to help repair the fracture in his left knee after his crash earlier this week. It looks as if he’s definitely out for the Tour De France in July but is remaining positive for the Tour of Spain at the end of August. We wish him all the best for his recovery and expect to see him back on flying form in Spain.

Giro d’Italia stage five result:

1. Team CSC 36:56″
2. T-Mobile +01″
3. Discovery Channel +39″
4. Liquigas +42″
5. Francaise des Jeux +1:00″
6. Gerolsteiner +1:03″
7. Quick-Step
8. Lampre +1:04″
9. Phonak
10. Credit Agricole +1:07″

Giro d’Italia overall standings:

1. Sergei Gontchar (Ukr/T-Mobile) 15:30:23″
2. Jens Voigt (Ger/Team CSC) +6″
3. Michael Rogers (Aus/T-Mobile)
4. Olaf Pollack (Ger/T-Mobile) +10″
5. Ivan Basso (It/Team CSC) +11″
6. Paolo Savoldelli (It/Discovery) +20″
7. Nicki Sorensen (Den/Team CSC) +29″
8. Stefan Schumacher (Ger/Gerolsteiner) +31″
9. Bobby Julich (US/Team CSC) +33″
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Spn/Discovery) +38″