Stage 02 Summary

The 181.5km second stage of the 2005 Tour de France began at 1.01pm. There were 189 riders in the race. The stage featured three intermediate sprints. These were in Orouet (at 17.5km), Talmont-St-Hilaire (69.5km) and Chateau-Guibert (141.5km). The first climb of the 92nd Tour was the category-four Cote du lac de la Vouraie at the 165km mark. The sun was shining and the stage was raced in warm conditions. At the start of the stage, the temperature in the air was 29 degrees Celsius. At road level it was 36 degrees. Bodrogi Becomes The Virtual Leader The first successful escape of the 2005 Tour was instigated by Joost Posthuma (RAB) at the 11km mark. (Calzati of the AG2R team did try his luck only moments earlier but he was caught soon after his attack.) Posthuma was joined by 13 others. After 14km of racing the 14 leaders were 10” ahead of the peloton. At the first intermediate sprint, the points were won by: 1. Hunter (PHO) 6pts/6”; 2. Wegmann (GST) 4pts/4”; 3. Gilbert (FDJ) 2pts/2”. After the sprint 10 of the escapees returned to the peloton. The riders who continued with the escape were: Bodrogi (C.A), Canada (SDV), Voeckler (BTL) and Calzati (A2R). At the 28km mark, their advantage on the peloton was 1’30”. Bodrogi became the virtual leader of the general classification after starting the stage in 5th place, 59” behind Zabriskie. At 32km, the quartet led by 1’50”; at 40km 3’10”; at 55km 3’35”. The CSC team led the peloton.. The points for the 2nd intermediate sprint were won by: 1. Bodrogi 6pts/6”; 2. Vockler 4pts/4”; 3. Calzati 2pts/2”. The peloton was behind the four escapees by 3’40”. With 100km to go, the four led the peloton by 4’10”. With 95km to go, the lead was 4’15” – this was the maximum gain of Bodrogi, Canada, Voeckler and Calzati. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 47.5km/h. After the feedzone (at 91km), riders from Quickstep and Francaise des Jeux came to the front of the peloton to share the pace setting duties with CSC. Setting Up The Sprint With 70km to go, the peloton was 3’30” behind the four escapees; with 60km to go, 3’15”. The teams in charge of the pursuit were Quickstep, Francaise des Jeux and Davitamon-Lotto. The advantage of the leaders was 2’50” with 50km to go; 1’50” with 36km to go. At the 3rd intermediate sprint the points were won by: 1. Bodrogi 6pts/6”; 2. Calzati 4pts/4”; 3. Canada 2pts/2”. The peloton was behind by 1’35”. With 20km to go, the peloton was just 45” behind. Canada attacked on the climb but was caught by Voeckler near the summit. The points were won by: 1. Voeckler 3pts; 2. Canada 2pts; 3. Calzati 1pt. The Bouyges Telecom rider will wear the polka-dot jersey in stage three. Bodrogi dropped out of the lead group on the climb. He was caught by the peloton with 14km to go. The three others were 22” ahead of the peloton with 10km to go. Canada, Voeckler and Calzati were caught with 8km to go. The teams of the main candidates for a bunch sprint came to the fore and although there was a brief surge from Beneteau (BTL) with 5km to go, it was destined to be a sprinter who would win the stage. FDJ, Davitamon and Quickstep did most of the work in the final kilometers but Liquigas also got in the mix in the last 1,000m. There was a crash in the final kilometer involving an FDJ rider. McEwen began his sprint as he exited the final turn with 300m to go. He went down the right side of the road but Boonen and Hushovd passed him in the final 100m. Tom Boonen claimed the victory. It is his third Tour stage win in two years. He will wear the green jersey for stage three. Dave Zabriskie (CSC) finished 71st, five seconds later than the stage winner. The American will wear the yellow jersey in stage three.