Versus | Tour de France

Stage 2 Recap

By Paul Sherwen
After the importance of the time trial on the opening day the second stage was offered to the sprinters today. Despite the race being dominated by a long breakaway it was all together for the run in to the finish.
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Click Here To View Stage 2 Map

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Monaco to Brignoles 182km

By Frankie Andreu
The stage starts in front of the place du Casino in Monaco and will finish 182km later in Brignoles. This will be the seventh stage start from Monaco during the Tour’s history.
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City Facts
BRIGNOLES
• First-time stage-town
• Population 17,000
• Sub-prefecture of the Var (83)
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Armstrong's Return

By Bob Roll
Lance Armstrong made a solid return to Le Tour de France in the Stage 1 time trial. Although we have become accustomed to Lance being in dominant form at the start of any
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Map My Ride Challenge

The Four Horsemen

By JoE Silva
199 men may have started the second stage of the Tour, but everyone knew that the race would probably come down to a handful of sprinters at the end of the day. Mark Cavendish the invincible, Thor Hushovd the 2005
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Newsflashes - Stage 02

15:44:03 - Clement Continues To Push The Pace

Of the four riders who have been in the lead since the 14km mark - Clement, Dessel, Auge and Veikkanen - the one who is doing the most work is the current virtual leader: Stef Clement of the Rabobank team. He has been on the front of the leading quartet 30 per cent of the time.

15:46:57 - Average Speed For Third Hour

The average speed for the third hour is 39.5km/h. The average for the first three hours combined is 40.3km/h.

15:47:31 - Advantage Drops To 4'35"

The peloton is at the 123km mark and it is slowly, but surely closing in on the leading four. The maximum gain for Clement, Auge, Dessel and Veikkanen was 5'25", that was at the site of the intermediate sprint in Fayance (91.5km). The advantage has dwindled to 4'35".

15:52:09 - Points For Fourth Climb

The polka-dot jersey will be awarded to the only Finnish rider in the race at the end of the stage. He has won the final three climbs today, giving him a total tally of nine points. The results of the climb col de l'Ange (at the 129km mark) were:

1. Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) 3pts

2. Cyril Dessel (ALM) 2pts

3. Stef Clement (RAB) 1pt

15:55:56 - Crash In Peloton!

There is a crash in the peloton claiming a number of casualties.

15:58:09 - Riders Involved Include...

The riders in the recent crash include Angelo Furlan (LAM), Gerald Ciolek (MRM), Hayden Roulston (CTT)... it seems that there are no serious injuries as most riders are now back on their bikes and racing again.

15:59:17 - All Fallen Riders Racing Again

David Moncoutie (COF) was also involved in the recent crash but they are all back on their bikes and racing again.

16:02:06 - Leaders 1km From Third Sprint

Clement and co are about to contest the third intermediate sprint of the stage. This is in Logues at the 138km mark.

16:03:53 - Result Of Third Sprint

The points for the third intermediate sprint were won by:

1. Stef Clement (RAB) 6pts

2. Cyril Dessel (ALM) 4pts

3. Stephane Auge (COF) 2pts

16:06:06 - Columbia Rider Moving Forward...

The Saxobank boys have been on the front of the peloton since the escape formed today. But now they can expect to start receiving some support from the teams of the sprint specialists. There is a Columbia rider now hovering near the head of the pack as the deficit to the leaders is still relatively high: 4'45" as they reached the site of the third intermediate sprint (at the 138km mark).

About Stage 2: Brignoles

The “Nocturnes Brignolaises”, which take place every year in late June, will undoubtedly have a special flavour this year, a few days before the finish of the first line stage. Brignoles hosted a stage of the Paris-Nice 2007 on the way to Cannes, but this is the first time it will be a Tour de France stage-town. It is mainly the way back that will be taken next summer.