Danielson keeps Armstrong at bay

Danielson races with Armstrong for the Discovery Channel team

Tom Danielson claimed the fifth stage of the Tour de Georgia as well as the overall lead after holding off a late surge from team-mate Lance Armstrong.

Danielson finished less than 15 seconds ahead of Levi Leipheimer to take the overall lead from Floyd Landis while Armstrong came home in third.

Armstrong showed his strength on the mountain climbs and gained ground on the leaders near the end of the stage.

Landis finished in fourth and Bobby Julich was fifth.

Armstrong, who had complained of stomach pains after the fourth stage, has struggled so far in this event, which he is using as a warm-up for his last Tour de France this summer.

However, the American has been boosted by his performance in the fifth stage, which puts him fifth overall.

"I don't know that it's perfect, but I'm not far off," he said.

And Danielson said the challenge of Armstrong acted as an inspiration to get over the finish line first.

"On the second to the last climb, Lance attacked, and he pulled the whole climb," he said.

"The whole time I was on his wheel, I was thinking 'There's no way I'm going to lose this race today.'"

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Tour de Georgia, stage five results:
1 Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) five hours, six minutes 15 secs
2 Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) 5:06:29
3 Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) 5:07:14
4 Floyd Landis (Phonak) 5:07:24
5 Bobby Julich (Team CSC) 5:07:57
6 Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval) 5:08:10
7 Trent Lowe (Jittery Joe's-Kalahari) 5:08:25
8 Saul Raisin (Credit Agricole) 5:08:25
9 Michael Blaudzun (Team CSC) 5:08:48
10 Andy Schleck (Team CSC) 5:08:48.

Overall standings:
1 Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) 21:54.55
2 Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) 21:54:48
3 Floyd Landis (Phonak) 21:54:53
5 Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) 21:56:25.