Oscar Freire of Spain won the 181-kilometre second stage of the Tour de France in Germany today. The world road champion, taking part in his first Tour, outshone other sprint specialists to earn his first stage win in the world's most famous cycling race. The Spanish rider, world champion in 2000 and last year, beat Australian Robbie McEwen and German Erik Zabel.
Unheralded Rubens Bertogliati of Switzerland retained his race leader's yellow jersey. Zabel's Telekom team mates led for most of the last 10 kilometres trying to place their leader in the best position for the final sprint but Freire was too strong, making his move in the last 20 metres to outclass the rest of the pack.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd, who led a breakaway for 140 kms with Frenchmen Sylvain Chavanel and Stephane Berges, struggled to finish the stage. The Credit Agricole rider was suddenly hit by cramps and was forced to let his two breakaway companions go ahead while the bunch overtook him and then quickly dropped him.
The bunch entered the German city of Saarbrucken tightly packed and left the sprinters to fight for victory. Local favourite Zabel, who was second in the first stage in Luxembourg on Sunday, had to be content with third this time, but retains the green sprinter's jersey. Frenchman Stephane Berges took the polka dot jersey from Christophe Mengin after winning both of Monday's climbs.
Filed by James Shortt
