Chapeau to race organisers ASO for revamping the rules of the points classification this year, and in doing so opening the competition back up again.

Andre Greipel’s second stage win of this year’s race means he is the first man past 150 points, boosted by also winning the kick to the intermediate sprint on stage five.

The German was too powerful for his sprinting rivals both there and at the finish and if he can keep it up he certainly has a good chance of holding the green jersey.

His team have, reportedly, told him not to focus on the intermediate sprints but it is a good thing he did claim points there because Peter Sagan is breathing down his neck.

Sagan’s second place was his second – both times behind Greipel – and accompanied his third place on stage four.

Once again the Slovakian champion’s consistency has helped him to tot up the points and with an uphill finish awaiting on stage six in Le Havre he will be among the favourites for a first Tour stage win since 2013.

Sagan, even with the rule change, knows better than most how to win the green jersey, having bagged three in three years.

He’ll have to work hard for this one, but it is still there for the taking.

Tour de France 2015: points classification after stage five

1) Andre Greipel (GER) – Lotto-Soudal – 151
2) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Tinkoff-Saxo – 119
3) John Degenkolb (GER) – Giant-Alpecin – 89
4) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Etixx-QuickStep – 86
5) Tony Martin (GER) – Etixx-QuickStep – 60
6) Bryan Coquard (FRA) – Europcar – 55
7) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing – 42
8) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 40
9) Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) – MTN-Qhubeka – 33
10) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha – 30