ST NAZAIRE, France, July 5 - Jaan Kirsipuu claimed the leader's
yellow jersey from American Lance Armstrong despite being beaten into
second place in the 176-km second stage of the Tour de France on
Monday.
Beaten on the finish line by Belgian Tom Steels, the 30-year-old
Estonian, winner of the first stage, was again the most active rider
in a fast ride from Challans to the shipbuilding city of St Nazaire.
He won all the intermediate sprints of the day to secure crucial
bonus time, enabling him to become the first rider from a Baltic
nation to lead the Tour.
Kirsipuu has a 14-second lead over Armstrong, the prologue winner.
"It was a beautiful day for me today. I won all three
intermediate sprints and I did not even have to fight for the
finish," said Kirsipuu, who collected a bonus of 18 seconds
during the stage.
"But I also managed to be second and it's great," added
Kirsipuu who was 16 seconds behind the American at the start.
The second stage all but dashed hopes of overall victory for four
of the leading riders.
Dutchman Michael Boogerd, Giro winner Ivan Gotti of Italy, Swiss
Alex Zuelle and Frenchman Jean-Cyril Robin, fifth last year, were all
involved in a mass pile-up as they were crossing a bridge.
The bunch split after the crash on the "passage du Gois"
and the second half of the peloton, including Boogerd, Gotti, Zuelle
and Robin, finished six minutes two seconds behind the Kirsipuu group.
Aware that he would take over the yellow jersey at the finish,
Kirsipuu did not battle for victory on the final stretch and Steels
seized his chance to score his fifth victory on the Tour. He won four
stages last year.
"The first stage victory on a big race is always the most
important. Now I can relax, knowing I've done what I was supposed to
do and everything that comes from now on will be a bonus," said
Mapei rider Steels.
"Now we can concentrate on the fight for overall victory.
Mapei team leader Pavel Tonkov, the 1996 Giro winner, finished in
the first half of the bunch.
"The most important thing was for Pavel to finish in the
leading bunch. Some of the other favourites finished six minutes
behind. That's great," said Steels.
The most unlucky rider on Monday was Rabobank leader Boogerd. He
was involved in two crashes, the first after only 34 kms.
American Jonathan Vaughters, winner of the Route du Sud this
season, was the first rider forced out of the Tour. He has a facial
injury.
ST NAZAIRE, France, July 5 - Leading placings in the second
stage of the Tour de France over 176 kms from Challans on Monday:
1. Tom Steels (Belgium) Mapei three hours 45 minutes 32 seconds
2. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) Casino
3. Mario Cipollini (Italy) Saeco
4. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom
5. Jimmy Casper (France) La Francaise de Jeux
6. George Hincapie (U.S.) U.S. Postal
7. Jan Svorada (Slovakia) Lampre
8. Silvio Martinello (Italy) Polti
9. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole
10. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole
11. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat
12. Sebastien Hinault (France) Credit Agricole
13. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina
14. Fabien de Waele (Belgium) Lotto
15. Zbigniew Spruch (Poland) Lampre
16. Henk Vogels (Australia) Credit Agricole
17. Erik Dekker (Netherlands) Rabobank
18. Mario Aerts (Belgium) Lotto
19. Rolf Huser (Switzerland) Festina
20. Jens Voigt (Germany) Credit Agricole all same time
Leading overall standings:
