CAP BLANC-NEZ, France : France's Cyril Dessel, of the AG2R-La Mondiale team, won Saturday's 179.4km fifth stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk cycling race between Calais and Cap Blanc-Nez.

Cofidis rider Stephane Auge of France, who won Tuesday's first stage, retained the leader's pink jersey and looks set fair to win the race following Sunday's sixth and final stage, a 128.4km stretch around Dunkirk.

Dessel clocked 4hr 23min 48sec to finish ahead of Gerald Ciolek of Germany and France's Samuel Dumoulin during this relatively short but tense stage.

France's Clement Lhotellerie had a poor day, however, after falling off the pace in the penultimate ascent of Cap Blanc-Nez to lose his best climber's jersey to Italy's Leonardo Scarselli.

By the fifth lap, 11 riders had broken away but Bouygues Telecom led the chase and by the seventh circuit the peloton had regrouped. Though several attacks were then attempted all came to nothing.

- AFP /ls