Ballan wins Tour of Poland fifth stage

Italy's Allesandro Ballan, of the Lampre team, won a sprint finish for the fifth stage of the Tour of Poland under the rain on Thursday.

Italy's Allesandro Ballan, of the Lampre team, won a sprint finish for the fifth stage of the Tour of Poland under the rain on Thursday.

Ballan's success on the 163km stage from Strzyzow to Krynica Zdroj also gave him possession of the race leader's yellow jersey.

The world champion finished ahead of Spaniard Daniel Moreno and Dutch rider Pieter Weening, who are second and third in the overall standings respectively.

"I promised to fight in the Tour of Poland and I kept my word," said Ballan after crossing the finish line in a bunched sprint.

"Until now I've ridden quietly in the peloton but in the mountains it will be time to attack and really fight," he added ahead of Friday's 162.2km sixth stage which will be in the mountains from Kroscienko to Zakopane.

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