PARIS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Yaroslav Popovych from the Discovery Channel won the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race to Manosque on Friday.

    Italy's Davide Rebellin, who rides for Gerolsteiner, retained the leader's jersey however two days before the end of the race in Nice.

    Popovych managed to get away from his breakaway companions 14 km from the finish and crossed the line about 15 seconds before the peloton.

    Spain's Francisco Ventoso succeeded in securing second spot ahead of France's Samuel Dumoulin.

    The 27-year-old Popovych did well in last year's Tour de Franceto win the stage which finished at southern town Carcassonne, a year after wearing the white jersey of the best youngster into Paris.

    In the overall standings, Rebellin has a six-second lead over Spain's Alberto Contador.

    Saturday's sixth stage has nine climbs in a 200 km route from Brignoles to Cannes.