Wiggins still leads in Britain

London - Irish rider Sam Bennett claimed the fifth stage of the Tour of Britain in the Welsh town of Caerphilly on Thursday, while Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead.

Bennett, from An Post-Chain Reaction, prevailed in a sprint finish ahead of Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) following a small breakaway.

Wiggins held onto his 37-second advantage as Team Sky, orchestrated by Ian Stannard, managed to hold the peloton together.

Stannard is second in the overall classification, six seconds ahead of Swiss rider Elmiger.

Belgium-born Bennett, 22, completed the 177km ride from Machynlleth to Caerphilly in a time of four hours, 35 minutes and 28 seconds.

It was his first career stage victory.

"It was a real hard fight coming into the finish, but I knew if I hung on up the climb that I would recuperate quick enough for the sprint and I just hung in," he said.

"It was a bit of a gamble going into the last corner.

"I went a bit wide, but I had enough acceleration to take the win."

Leading results from the fifth stage of the Tour of Britain, a 177.1km ride from Machynlleth to Caerphilly on Thursday:
1. Sam Bennett (IRL) An Post-Chainreaction 4hrs 35mins 29secs, 2. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step same time, 3. Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling s.t., 4. David Lelay (FRA) Sojasun s.t., 5. Jack Bauer (NZL) Garmin-Sharp s.t., 6. Simon Yates (GBR) Great Britain s.t., 7. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Procycling s.t., 8. Sebastien Reichenbach (SUI) IAM Cycling s.t., 9. Ian Stannard (GBR) Sky Procycling s.t., 10. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (COL) Movistar Team s.t.,

Overall standings:
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Procycling 20hrs 47mins 05secs, 2. Ian Stannard (Gbr) Sky Procycling at 37sec, 3. Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling 43, 4. Jack Bauer (NZL) Garmin-Sharp 55, 5. Michal Golas (POL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1min 12secs, 6. David Lopez Garcia (ESP) Sky Procycling at 1.17, 7. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (ESP) MTN-Qhubeka at 1.18, 8. Simon Yates (GBR) Great Britain at 1.23, 9. Daniel Martin (IRL) Garmin-Sharp at 1.38, 10. Sebastien Reichenbach (SUI) IAM Cycling at 1.44