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By Justin Davis, Agence France Presse
Photo: Graham Watson
Ag2R’s Samuel Dumoulin moved into the overall leader’s jersey after winning the second stage of the Dauphiné Libéré, a 187-kilometer race from Givors to Chauffailles, on Tuesday.
The AG2R rider prevailed in a sprint on what was the final, relatively flat stage ahead of Wednesday’s 47km time trial – a stage in which Lance Armstrong is favored to win and thus claim his first victory of the season. Dumoulin takes over the race lead from Discovery’s George Hincapie.
Dumoulin – whose international fame has largely been confined to the distinction being the smallest rider at the Tour de France each year – rose high above three of his fellow breakaway companions on the tricky 187km stage from Givors to here to claim his first victory in more than a year having spent half of last season injured.
His efforts left him with the stage win and the race leader’s jersey and he now has a 20-second lead over compatriot Frederic Finot (La Francaise des Jeux) going into Wednesday’s 47km time trial in nearby Roanne.
“It’s my biggest victory in a year and I’m almost lost for words,” said Dumoulin, who at 1.59 meters (5 foot 2) tall admitted he has learned to live with jibes right through school and in the amateur cycling ranks. “I’ve had a really difficult year. A lot of things have changed in my life since the Tour last year and I’ve struggled at times to get my morale back. So winning – not necessarily taking the leader’s jersey – was the most important thing for me.”
Photo: Graham Watson
Dumoulin, who had to abandon the Tour de France last year with a serious elbow injury after he crashed when a stray dog walked across the road, easily held off Anthony Charteau of Bouygues Telecom raising his arms in the air in triumph. Finot finished third with another Frenchman, Frederic Bessy of Cofidis, in fourth.
The four had managed to escape from the peloton after only a few kilometers of racing, and eventually built a lead of more than 20 minutes before the sprinters‘ teams ramped up the chase. The effort, however, proved to be too little too late and the four escapees held on to a healthy lead at the finish. South African Robert Hunter held off Norwegian champion Thor Hushovd to claim fifth place, 3:16 after Dumoulin’s group had already ended a 180km breakaway in style.
Discovery Channel’s Hincapie, who pulled on the leader’s yellow jersey after winning Sunday’s prologue, finished in the main field alongside team leader Lance Armstrong. Armstrong, who is expected to be among the favorites for Wednesday’s 47 km race against the clock, is using the race as preparation for his bid to win a seventh consecutive yellow jersey in July’s Tour de France.
Dumoulin had tears in his eyes as he celebrated victory on what is effectively home soil.
“I was itching to get going at the start of the stage and once we’d managed to get a good lead on the group I started to think I could have a go at the leader’s jersey,” he said. “At the start of the stage we were laughing and joking amongst ourselves, but when our lead started to grow I realized we had a chance of taking it all the way.
Photo: Graham Watson
“Then with around 40 kilometers to the finish I knew the bunch were starting to really give chase, so we got a bit more serious and started encouraging each other.”
The peloton upped the pace dramatically and did well to cut a gap of 8:20 at the 34km to go mark to only three minutes at the end.
Dumoulin’s race lead may not last after Wednesday’s time trial, where Armstrong, Alexandre Vinokourov, Andreas Klöden and Santiago Botero look likely to fight out the stage win.
But Dumoulin noted that he won’t give up the jersey without a fight.
“I promise that I’ll just go for it as hard as I possibly can.”
Stage 2 Results
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 4:47:06
2. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom
3. Frederic Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis, all s.t.
5. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak, at 3:16
6. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole
7. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Cofidis
8. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo
9. Enrico Franzoi (I), Lampre
10. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, all s.t.
Overall after Stage 2
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
2. Frederic Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux, 0:20
3. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 0:21
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis, 0:28
5. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:06
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 3:07
7. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 3:09
8. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 3:11
9. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:12
10. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 3:13
Photo Gallery
Results
Stage 2 Results
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 4:47:06
2. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom
3. Frederic Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis
5. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak, 3:16
6. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole
7. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis
8. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo
9. Enrico Franzoi (I), Lampre
10. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
11. Jimmy Engoulvent (F), Cofidis
12. Daniele Becke (G), Illes Balears
13. Nick Nuyens (B), Quickstep
14. Manuel Quinziato (I), Saunier Duval
15. Serge Baguet (B), Davitamon-Lotto
16. Anthony Geslin (F), Bouygues Telecom
17. Gianluca Bortolami (I), Lampre
18. Elia Rigotto (I), Domina Vacanze
19. Heinrich Haussler (G), Gerolsteiner
20. Mickael Delage (F), Francaise des Jeux
21. Mauro Gerosa (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
22. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
23. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile
24. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval
25. Rafael Casero (Sp), Saunier Duval
26. Allan Davis (Aus), LSW
27. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quickstep
28. Mario Aerts (B), Davitamon-Lotto
29. Bram Tankink (Nl), Quickstep
30. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel
31. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Illes Balears
32. Arvesen Kurt-Asle (Nor), CSC
33. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak
34. Philippe Gilbert (B), Francaise des Jeux
35. Christophe Moreau (F), Credit Agricole
36. Remy Di Gregorio (F), Francaise des Jeux
37. Johan Vansummeren (B), Davitamon-Lotto
38. Matthias Russ (G), Gerolsteiner
39. David Arroyo (Sp), Illes Balears
40. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe), Liquigas-Bianchi
41. Preben Van Hecke (B), Davitamon-Lotto
42. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole
43. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner
44. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole
45. Cyril Dessel (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
46. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel
47. Andreas Kloden (G), T-Mobile
48. Jerome Pineau (F), Bouygues Telecom
49. Paolo Bossoni (I), Fassa Bortolo
50. Alberto Contador (Sp), LSW
51. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears
52. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Lampre
53. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner
54. Roberto Heras (Sp), LSW
55. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak
56. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner
57. Bert Grabsch (G), Phonak
58. Oscar Mason (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
59. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile
60. Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Davitamon-Lotto
61. Didier Rous (F), Bouygues Telecom
62. Inigo Chaurreau (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance
63. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
64. Alessandr Cortinovis (I), Domina Vacanze
65. Matej Jurco (SVK), Domina Vacanze
66. Christophe Mengin (F), Francaise des Jeux
67. Nicolas Fritsch (F), Saunier Duval
68. Jose Cayetano Julia (Sp), Illes Balears
69. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel
70. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
71. Massimo Giunti (I), Fassa Bortolo
72. Maryan Hary (F), Bouygues Telecom
73. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Discovery Channel
74. David Canada (Sp), Saunier Duval
75. Janek Tombak (Est), Cofidis
76. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo
77. Jose Azevedo (P), Discovery Channel
78. Manuel Calvente (Sp), CSC
79. Luke Roberts (Aus), CSC
80. Mikel Astarloza (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance
81. Benoit Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole
82. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC
83. Joost Posthuma (Nl), Rabobank
84. Axel Merckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto
85. Ludovic Turpin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
86. Juan Miguel Mercado (Sp), Quickstep
87. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank
88. Francisco Lara Ruiz (Sp), T-Mobile
89. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak
90. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank
91. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Cofidis
92. Stephane Goubert (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
93. Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col), Davitamon-Lotto
94. Juan Fuentes (Sp), Lampre
95. Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel
96. Christian Vandevelde (USA), CSC
97. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak
98. Massimo Codol (I), Fassa Bortolo
99. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval
100. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quickstep
101. Bernhard Kohl (A), T-Mobile
102. Sebastien Joly (F), Credit Agricole
103. Joseba Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
104. Mikel Pradera (Sp), Illes Balears
105. Xabie Zandio Echaide (Sp), Illes Balears
106. Igor Gonzalez De Gal (Sp), LSW
107. Benoit Vaugrenard (F), Francaise des Jeux
108. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CSC
109. Iker Camano (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
110. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis
111. Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Domina Vacanze
112. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), T-Mobile
113. Gianluca Sironi (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
114. Thomas Lovkvist (Swe), Francaise des Jeux
115. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto
116. Pierre Drancourt (F), Bouygues Telecom
117. Jose Pecharroman (Sp), Quickstep
118. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom
119. Sergio Ghisalberti (I), Domina Vacanze
120. Jose Gutierrez (Sp), Phonak
121. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo
122. Jose Garcia Acosta (Sp), Illes Balears
123. Sergio Paulinho (P), LSW
124. Angel Edo (Sp), Saunier Duval
125. Devis Miorin (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
126. Alessand Spezialetti (I), Lampre
127. Gerben Lowik (Nl), Rabobank
128. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank
129. Christophe Edaleine (F), Cofidis
130. Marcos Serrano (Sp), LSW
131. Francis Mourey (F), Francaise des Jeux
132. Uwe Peschel (G), Gerolsteiner
133. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
134. Nicolas Vogondy (F), Credit Agricole
135. Brian Vandborg (Dk), CSC
136. Jorg Jaksche (G), LSW
137. Rafael Nuritdinov (UZB), Domina Vacanze
138. Damien Nazon (F), Credit Agricole, 3:41
139. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, 3:56
140. Giosue Bonomi (I), Lampre, 6:41
141. Benjamin Noval (Sp), Discovery Channel, 8:34
142. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel
143. Aitor Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
144. Yohann Gene (F), Bouygues Telecom
145. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Domina Vacanze, 10:40
146. Oleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr), Lampre
147. Christian Werner (G), T-Mobile
148. Giovanni Visconti (I), Domina Vacanze
149. Roberto Petito (I), Fassa Bortolo
150. Marc Wauters (B), Rabobank
151. Marco Serpellini (I), Gerolsteiner
152. Torsten Schmidt (G), Gerolsteiner
153. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep
154. Torsten Hiekmann (G), T-Mobile, 11:14
155. Magnus Backstedt (Swe), Liquigas-Bianchi, 18:47
156. Dimitri De Fauw (B), Quickstep
Josu Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Pedro Horrillo (Sp), Rabobank
Overall after Stage 2
1. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
2. Frederic Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux, 0:20
3. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 0:21
4. Frederic Bessy (F), Cofidis, 0:28
5. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:06
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 3:07
7. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 3:09
8. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 3:11
9. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 3:12
10. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 3:13
11. Alberto Contador (Sp), LSW, 3:15
12. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Illes Balears, 3:19
13. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner
14. Francisco Lara Ruiz (Sp), T-Mobile, 3:20
15. Santiago Botero (Col), Phonak
16. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile
17. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak, 3:22
18. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quickstep
19. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 3:23
20. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo
21. Christophe Moreau (F), Credit Agricole
22. Massimo Giunti (I), Fassa Bortolo, 3:24
23. Nick Nuyens (B), Quickstep
24. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank
25. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 3:25
26. David Canada (Sp), Saunier Duval, 3:27
27. Sergio Paulinho (P), LSW
28. Mikel Astarloza (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance, 3:28
29. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak
30. Roberto Heras (Sp), LSW, 3:29
31. Jerome Pineau (F), Bouygues Telecom
32. Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Domina Vacanze, 3:30
33. Didier Rous (F), Bouygues Telecom
34. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Discovery Channel
35. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo
36. Luke Roberts (Aus), CSC
37. Andreas Kloden (G), T-Mobile
38. Igor Gonzalez De Gal (Sp), LSW
39. Arvesen Kurt-Asle (Nor), CSC, 3:31
40. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis
41. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
42. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Lampre, 3:32
43. Brian Vandborg (Dk), CSC
44. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner
45. Jose Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 3:33
46. Nicolas Fritsch (F), Saunier Duval, 3:35
47. Joost Posthuma (Nl), Rabobank
48. Nicolas Vogondy (F), Credit Agricole
49. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 3:36
50. Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel
51. Jose Gutierrez (Sp), Phonak, 3:37
52. Bram Tankink (Nl), Quickstep
53. Cyril Dessel (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
54. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CSC, 3:38
55. Alessandr Cortinovis (I), Domina Vacanze
56. Philippe Gilbert (B), Francaise des Jeux
57. Jorg Jaksche (G), LSW, 3:39
58. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
59. Jose Azevedo (P), Discovery Channel, 3:40
60. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile, 3:41
61. Daniele Becke (G), Illes Balears
62. Manuel Quinziato (I), Saunier Duval, 3:42
63. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Cofidis
64. Enrico Franzoi (I), Lampre
65. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), T-Mobile, 3:43
66. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank
67. Bert Grabsch (G), Phonak, 3:45
68. Sebastien Joly (F), Credit Agricole
69. Paolo Bossoni (I), Fassa Bortolo
70. Uwe Peschel (G), Gerolsteiner
71. Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Davitamon-Lotto
72. Iker Camano (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
73. Maryan Hary (F), Bouygues Telecom
74. Sergio Ghisalberti (I), Domina Vacanze, 3:46
75. Xabie Zandio Echaide (Sp), Illes Balears
76. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 3:47
77. Massimo Codol (I), Fassa Bortolo
78. Stephane Goubert (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 3:48
79. Christian Vandevelde (USA), CSC
80. Gianluca Sironi (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
81. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 3:49
82. Mario Aerts (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 3:50
83. Matej Jurco (SVK), Domina Vacanze, 3:51
84. Manuel Calvente (Sp), CSC
85. Allan Davis (Aus), LSW, 3:52
86. Mikel Pradera (Sp), Illes Balears, 3:53
87. Axel Merckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto
88. Christophe Edaleine (F), Cofidis
89. Elia Rigotto (I), Domina Vacanze
90. Christophe Mengin (F), Francaise des Jeux, 3:54
91. Benoit Vaugrenard (F), Francaise des Jeux, 3:55
92. Gerben Lowik (Nl), Rabobank
93. Juan Miguel Mercado (Sp), Quickstep
94. Jose Pecharroman (Sp), Quickstep
95. David Arroyo (Sp), Illes Balears, 3:57
96. Serge Baguet (B), Davitamon-Lotto
97. Mauro Gerosa (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
98. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quickstep
99. Matthias Russ (G), Gerolsteiner
100. Bernhard Kohl (A), T-Mobile
101. Marcos Serrano (Sp), LSW, 3:58
102. Jimmy Engoulvent (F), Cofidis, 3:59
103. Preben Van Hecke (B), Davitamon-Lotto
104. Johan Vansummeren (B), Davitamon-Lotto
105. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo
106. Inigo Chaurreau (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance
107. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom
108. Janek Tombak (Est), Cofidis, 4:00
109. Thomas Lovkvist (Swe), Francaise des Jeux
110. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe), Liquigas-Bianchi
111. Gianluca Bortolami (I), Lampre, 4:01
112. Alessand Spezialetti (I), Lampre, 4:02
113. Ludovic Turpin (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 4:03
114. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole
115. Anthony Geslin (F), Bouygues Telecom, 4:04
116. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto
117. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
118. Jose Garcia Acosta (Sp), Illes Balears, 4:05
119. Juan Fuentes (Sp), Lampre
120. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank
121. Rafael Nuritdinov (UZB), Domina Vacanze, 4:06
122. Remy Di Gregorio (F), Francaise des Jeux, 4:08
123. Pierre Drancourt (F), Bouygues Telecom
124. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank
125. Oscar Mason (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
126. Benoit Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole
127. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval, 4:10
128. Jose Cayetano Julia (Sp), Illes Balears, 4:13
129. Rafael Casero (Sp), Saunier Duval, 4:14
130. Mickael Delage (F), Francaise des Jeux
131. Joseba Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4:15
132. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel
133. Francis Mourey (F), Francaise des Jeux, 4:17
134. Devis Miorin (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 4:18
135. Angel Edo (Sp), Saunier Duval, 4:22
136. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4:24
137. Damien Nazon (F), Credit Agricole, 4:51
138. Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col), Davitamon-Lotto, 5:09
139. Heinrich Haussler (G), Gerolsteiner, 5:25
140. Giosue Bonomi (I), Lampre, 7:47
141. Benjamin Noval (Sp), Discovery Channel, 8:48
142. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel, 9:07
143. Aitor Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 9:27
144. Yohann Gene (F), Bouygues Telecom, 9:32
145. Giovanni Visconti (I), Domina Vacanze, 11:08
146. Torsten Schmidt (G), Gerolsteiner, 11:14
147. Marc Wauters (B), Rabobank, 11:17
148. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Domina Vacanze, 11:22
149. Christian Werner (G), T-Mobile, 11:25
150. Oleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr), Lampre, 11:26
151. Roberto Petito (I), Fassa Bortolo, 11:28
152. Marco Serpellini (I), Gerolsteiner, 11:37
153. Torsten Hiekmann (G), T-Mobile, 11:46
154. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep, 12:32
155. Magnus Backstedt (Swe), Liquigas-Bianchi, 19:06
156. Dimitri De Fauw (B), Quickstep, 20:05