Tour de France 2008 – Stage 2 Results – Thor sprints to win!

After 164.5 km in the rain soaked countryside of Brittany, Stage 2 ended in an exciting surge to the finish line. With World Champion Fabian Cancellara attacking with 1km to go. But it just was not meant to be, as big Thor Hushovd stormed to the line to take the stage.

After the stage Thor had this to say,”I knew this was a sprint that played to my strengths, but it was difficult with the wind and a little hill at the end.”

Caisse d’Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde keeps the coveted Maillot Jaune for another day. But look for him to possible relinquish possession of the jersey as soon as Stage 4. Taxing his team by protecting the jersey this early on is not in the plans for the Caisse d’Epargne team.

Have something to add, or want to chime in with your stage thoughts? We welcome comments below!

Stage Results
1. Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole
2. Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia
3. Gerald Ciolek, Team Columbia
4. Robbie Hunter, Barloworld
5. Erik Zabel, Milram
6. Yury Trofimov, AG2R
7. Oscar Freire, Rabobank
8. Jimmy Casper, Agritubel
9. Martin Elminger, AG2R
10. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis


General Classification after Stage 2
1. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d’Epargne – 8h 21′ 20″
2. Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia – 00′ 01″
3. Oscar Freire, Rabobank – 00′ 01″
4. Juan José Cobo, Saunier Duval-Scott – 00′ 01″
5. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto – 00′ 01″
6. Jerome Pineau, Bouygues Telecom – 00′ 01″
7. David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle – 00’01″
8. Riccardo Riccò – Saunier Duval-Scott – 00’01″
9. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank – 00′ 01″
10. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas – 00′ 01″

Full results here..

Jersey Standings:
A. Valverde
K. Kichen
T.Voeckler
R. Ricco

Alejandro Valverde remains in yellow!

Links to news sites…

“Hushovd wins 2nd Tour stage; Valverde keeps lead
By JAMEY KEATEN

SAINT-BRIEUC, France (AP) — Sprint specialist Thor Hushovd won the second stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, with Alejandro Valverde keeping the overall lead after a windy, rain-soaked ride through the Brittany countryside.” Read more from the Associated Press…

“Hushovd hammers to stage win, Valverde keeps yellow

SAINT BRIEUC, France (AFP) — Norwegian Thor Hushovd of Credit Agricole claimed his sixth victory from the Tour de France after powering his way to the second stage over 164.5km from Auray to here Sunday.” Read more from the AFP…

“Tour de France stage 2: Hushovd gets the win
By VeloNews.com
Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) shot out of a chaotic bunch dash to win stage 2 of the 2008 Tour de France on Sunday. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) finished safely near the front of the peloton to retain the overall lead.” Read more from VeloNews.com…

“Thor thunders to sixth tour stage win
Valverde holds onto maillot jaune, Voeckler fortifies mountains lead
By CyclingNews.com

Tipped by some as the likely top contender for the maillot vert this year, Thor Hushovd showed he is certainly in the right kind of form with a powerful sprint victory into Saint Brieuc. The Crédit Agricole rider jumped hard and held off the other riders in the uphill rise to the line, nabbing his sixth career stage win in the race and driving the Norwegian supporters crazy.” Read more from CyclingNews.com…

“Norwegian Grabs Win From French Riders at Tour de France
By EDWARD WYATT

SAINT-BRIEUC, France — While this cycling-mad nation loves the spectacle of the Tour de France, many fans here despair that no Frenchman has won the Tour since 1985, when Bernard Hinault, born near this village on the northern Brittany coast, captured his fifth yellow jersey.” Read more from the New York Times…