The Hindu : Sport / Cycling : McEwen wins second stage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cycling

McEwen wins second stage

NAMUR (BELGIUM), JULY 5. Shot like a rocket from the stampeding pack, Robbie McEwen of Australia sprinted to victory on Monday in a crash-filled second stage of the Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong, playing it safe, kept his drive for a record sixth Tour victory on track by placing comfortably down the field, in 85th place. Armstrong's biggest threat, 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich, finished 38th, in the same time as the Texan.

As the pack bore down on the last corner, McEwen burst through a gap with a burst of speed. He pumped his arms as he clinched his fourth stage win in seven Tours, and his first since 2002.

McEwen beat Thor Hushovd of Norway into second. But Hushovd, who was third in another sprint finish on Sunday, still secured the overall race lead and the coveted yellow jersey that goes with it.

``Everything was on automatic,'' said 32-year-old McEwen, second in Sunday's sprint. ``I won't say it was easy but it went really nicely.''

Armstrong is fourth overall, but will look to take the lead later in the three-week race. Ullrich is 15 seconds behind in 17th place.

There were several crashes on Monday's stage run under cloud-broken sunny skies — including a dramatic spill in the hazardous final mass sprint that took down French rider Jimmy Casper and Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen. — AP

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