Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) is one of those riders who can do just about anything. He chases down breakaways for the GC captains, goes on the attack to take off the pressure in the spring classics and even managed to finish 10th in last year’s Vuelta a España.

Friday was payback time for the 26-year-old Barredo, who attacked late in the 172.5km fifth stage across Provence to drop the remnants of a 17-man breakaway and claim Quick Step’s third win in six days of racing at the 66th Paris-Nice.

“I kept looking back because I wasn’t sure if it was true,” said Barredo, who crossed the line four seconds ahead of the chasing Karsten Kroon (CSC). “This is huge for me, because it’s not easy to win at this level. Sometimes it pays off.”

Race leader Robert Gesink rolled under the banner 23rd at 2:15 back to enjoy his first full day in the yellow jersey after his depleted Rabobank team successfully defended his 32-second lead to Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).

The rolling, four-climb stage wasn’t without a few nervous moments for the 21-year-old Gesink.

The presence in the breakaway of Barredo, who started the day in 12th at 4:07 back, caused some concern for Rabobank after three of its riders were dropped on the Cat. 2 climb in the opening 30km. With the win, Barredo did himself a favor in GC, moving up to sixth at 1:42 back.

When the gap grew north of three minutes with less than 30km to go, Rabobank was glad to see Gerolsteiner put some fresh legs on the front of the pack to protect Rebellin’s position.

“It was not easy today, because it was war from the first kilometers. The first 60km were very fast, but I was okay. The team protected me,” said a relieved Gesink, who surged into the leader’s jersey in Thursday’s summit finish up Mont Ventoux. “I am feeling the pressure from Rebellin. This weekend will be very hard, but I will do my best to try to win this little race called Paris-Nice.”

Rabobank chases for race leader Gesink.

Photo: Graham Watson

Friday’s stage was just a preview of what lies in store in Saturday’s grueling seven-climb stage after France’s rugged Var region as the “Race to the Sun” hits the glamorous Cote d’Azur.

Rebellin wants to end his record of being close at Paris-Nice without ever winning. He’s been three times on the podium, but never on the top spot.

“We were happy to see Rabobank forced to work today, but we didn’t want Barredo to gain too much time on Rebellin,” said Gerolsteiner boss Hans-Michael Holczer.

“We saw Rabobank lose three riders on the first climb. Maybe we can isolate Gesink on the Tanneron (20km to go in Saturday’s stage) and put him under pressure. Rebellin is motivated to try. He doesn’t want to be second again.”

Break into the sun

Spring finally came to Paris-Nice for the bumpy 172.5km route from Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron, with temperatures pushing into the 70s under sunny skies. The course hit one Cat. 2 and three Cat. 3 climbs as it pushed east across the spectacular heart of France’s Provence region.

The dust was still settling following Gesink’s impressive display on Mont Ventoux. Everyone involved pooh-poohed the idea that there was some sort of pact between Gesink and Cadel Evans, whose Silence-Lotto teammate Yaroslav Popovych was dropped with about 3.5km to go. Gesink was simply too strong for the trailing Popovych, who couldn’t claw back on the flatter upper sections of the road, and Evans had to dig deep to stay on the young Dutchman’s wheel.

Gesink was angry that Evans sat in his slipstream up the final part of the climb before coming around to pip him for the stage victory.

“I understand why (Evans) did it, but I didn’t like the way he rode,” Gesink said. “I really wanted to win on Ventoux, but now I have the race leader’s jersey so now I will race to defend it this weekend. It won’t be easy.”

Friday’s stage was tailor-made for a breakaway, opening with the Cat. 2 Col de Murs at 30km, which quickly stretched the elastic on the race-weary pack. The longer, but less-steep Cat. 3 Col de Javon prompted more attacks.

Some 17 riders eventually extracted themselves, among them: David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne), Mathieu Perget (GCE), Karsten Kroon (CSC), Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas) Alexandre Botcharov, Simon Gerrans, Pierre Rolland (all Crédit Agricole), Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Manuele Mori, Aurelien Passeron (both Saunier Duval), Stef Clement (Bouygues Telecom), Maxime Monfort (Cofidis), Jose Luis Arrieta (AG2R), Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), and Christophe Moreau, Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez, Geoffroy Lequatre (all Agritubel). Barredo was best-placed at 4:07 back.

Rabobank put its remaining men on the front to keep the group on a short leash, but when the gap grew north of three minutes with 25km, Gerolsteiner added some fresh bodies to trim the difference.

Final loop

The course finished with an 18.5km circuit that included the Cat. 3 Cote des Marquises with 12.5km to go. The leaders were whetting their collective lips with a chance for a stage victory as they entered the first passage through Sisteron with a 2:25 lead.

Barredo makes his move.

Photo: Graham Watson

Botcharov was the first to jump, prompting reaction from Moreau and Co. Eventually, five riders pulled clear ahead of the Marquises, with Kroon, Moreau, Mori, Barredo and Rolland putting 30 seconds on the chasers.

Kroon knew he was the best sprinter, and Barredo sensed correctly his best chance was to attack. The Spaniard put down two blistering attacks on an unrated climb just after the Marquises climb with about 10km to go.

“I knew I would not have any chance in the sprint, so I wanted to attack. Kroon tried to follow so I went again to shake him,” Barredo said. “They hesitated and I really gave it all. This is a big win for me. I’ve been close before, so it’s payback for all my hard work.”

The Kroon group hesitated, giving the working man just enough to claim victory.

Race notes

• Winner: Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), third stage win for the team
• Leader: Robert Gesink (Rabobank), defends first day in jersey
• Points: Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), leads 76-59 as Kroon moves into second
• Mountain: Clément Lhotellerie (Skil-Shimano)
• Team: Quick Step
• Youth: Gesink
• Peloton: 132 remaining riders; 3 DNS, including David Millar (Slipstream-Chipotle); 14 DNF, including Brad McGee (CSC), Remy Di Gregorio (FDJeux) and Mario Aerts (Silence-Lotto)
• Americans: Bobby Julich (CSC) is the top American on GC in 44th, 28:16 back. Slipstream-Chipotle is 15th in the teams competition at 50:58.
• Tomorrow’s stage: The 66th Paris-Nice continues Saturday with the 206km sixth stage from Sisteron to Cannes. The race’s longest stage features seven rated climbs, including the decisive Cat. 2 Col du Tanneron with 20km to go. Wind can be a factor on the flat 12km run into glamorous Cannes.