Robbie McEwen has held on to the coveted sprinters green jersey in the Tour de France despite a miss-timed sprint in the fifth stage.

McEwen, winner of two stages already this year, saw new lead-out man Gert Steegmans peak too soon, and the Aussie was left languishing in fifth place as Spaniard Oscar Freire claimed the stage.

"Steegmans launched the sprint with 500 metres to go, which was too early. He left me at the 300-metre mark," McEwen said.

"That was impossible racing into the headwind."

Freire, a three-time world champion, ended a four-year victory drought on the Tour, beating Belgian Tom Boonen in another hectic sprint finish to claim the stage.

It was the 30-year-old’s first Tour stage win since 2002.

Boonen maintains the overall race yellow jersey, however it is closing the gap to McEwen for the green which pleases him most.

"I would prefer the green but as the world champion in the yellow jersey I know that I'm in a select few,” Boonan said.

Boonen who is yet to win a stage in this year’s Tour has increased his lead to 13 seconds over Australia’s Michael Rogers.

McEwen overall is 24 seconds behind in 6th, Cadel Evans remains in touch 32 seconds back in 12th, Simon Gerrans is 1min 15 secs adrift (76th) and Stuart O’Grady is taking it stage by stage after suffering a serious crash earlier in the week. O’Grady has dropped to 14 minutes behind Boonen.

The sixth stage is 189km between Lisieux and Vitre. Then the race’s first big test, the 52km time trial, will shape the contenders. For Rogers, the three-time world time trial champion, it is his chance to take the yellow jersey.

AOC