In short
| Stage winner | Ivan BASSO |
 (yellow jersey) |
Ivan BASSO |
 (green jersey) |
Ivan BASSO |
 (red polka dot jersey) |
David LOPEZ GARCIA |
 (white jersey) |
Andriy GRIVKO |
Starters' list | Time schedules
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best young • Best team |
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| Overall |
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• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best young • Best team |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Saturday 25 March | 192 km |
| Sedan > Charleville-Mezieres | ||
| 2 | Sunday 26 March | 101 km |
| Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) > Montherme | ||
| 3 | Sunday 26 March | 8.3 km |
| Charleville-Mezieres > Charleville-Mezieres | ||
| 100 | Thursday 6 April | 301.3 km |
| Critérium International | ||
| Total | 301.3 km | |
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The race
Sunday 26 March 2006| stage 2 | Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) > Montherme - 101 km |  |
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Basso in Tour shape
The second stage of the 75th Criterium International covered over the hilly roads of the Ardennes area saw Italy’s Ivan Basso triumph for the first time this season. The day’s morning stage immediately started with the first of 9 climbs. Involved in one of the early breakaways, Spaniard Lopez Garcia, leader of the climber’s standing made the best of these hills to conquer more mountain points. But the decision was to be made in the two final climbs when the main favourites including overall leader Dekker and his closest rival Basso eased up the pace. Three men were to finally battle it out for stage success after Dekker suffered mechanical problems. Basso eventually beat Botcharov and Dominguez.
The film of the stage
Early crash
The remaining riders of the 75th edition of the Criterium Internatonal started a very eventful day with a hilly stage including 9 climbs in the Ardennes area, under cloudy skies and slight showers. The real action started just after the first hill (the Côte des Vieilles Forges) won by Spaniard and polka-dot jersey holder Lopez Garcia (EUS). Going downhill, two French riders attacked: Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Laurent (AGR), rapidly caught up by Contador (LSW) and Anton (EUS). Just before the second climb at km 9, Contador decided to insist on his own while his former companions were caught back by the pack. Meanwhile, a crash occurred in the bunch at km 8 with several riders forced to quit the event, including Moncoutié (taken to hospital with a knee injury) but also Casar, Moinard and Fernandez. Contador made it to the top of the climb with a 50†advantage.
Lopez Garcia captures more mountain points
The Spaniard’s advantage then started dropping. At the top of the Côte de Roc de la Tour, Contador remained in the lead but only had a 10†lead on the pack. Despite the help of Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (BTL) who had managed to break away and catch up the leader, the pack led by the Rabobank team of overall leader Erik Dekker was to close in on the front men. Indeed, the pack made it bunched at the top of the fourth climb where Lopez Garcia captured the most points ahead of Kashechkin (LSW) and Joly (FDJ). These three men carried on their efforts and managed a decent gap on the pack. Again Lopez Garcia made it first at the top of the fifth and sixth climb, increasing his advantage in the climber’s standing. The three leaders (Lopez Garcia, Kashechkin and Joly) were to be caught up by a group of counter attacking riders including Voigt, Jalabert, A. Efimkin, Vaugrenard, Pineau and Contador. The 9 front men enjoying a maximum 30†gap on the pack. Again Lopez Garcia took off alone but despite capturing more mountain points at the top of the Côte du Bois de l’Or, the Spaniard never managed to really increase his leadership. All the front men were to be caught up by the pack.
The decisive move
In the penultimate climb up the Côte du Mont Malgré Tout, ten riders took off including race leader Dekker. At the top of the hill, the leading group had dropped down to four men with Botcharov (C.A) ahead of Basso, Dekker (RAB) and Dominguez (UNI) while the chasing group remained 25†adrift. The four increased their lead to a maximum 1’ on a group including their main rivals in the overall (Grivko, Astarloa, …). In the final climb of the day up the Côte de la Roche aux 7 Villages, Botcharov took off with under 4kms to go, immediately chased by Basso and then Dominguez. Suffering mechanical problems, Erik Dekker failed to follow. Ivan Basso eventually claimed stage 2 victory, beating Botcharov and Dominguez to the line. The yellow jersey therefore changes shoulders and goes from those of unlucky Dekker to Ivan Basso, before the final time-trial stage in the streets of Charleville-Mézières.
The newsflashes
