Hushovd outwits fellow sprinters to take stage

By Julien Pretot

ST BRIEUC, France (Reuters) - Norway's Thor Hushovd powered to his sixth victory on the Tour de France when he won a mass sprint to snatch the second stage on Sunday.

The Credit Agricole rider, who won the prologue in Strasbourg two years ago, outwitted his fellow sprinters in a nervous finish after 164.5 kms from Auray to St Brieuc.

He beat Team Columbia riders Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg and Gerald Ciolek of Germany.

It was not enough, however, to take the overall leader's yellow jersey off Alejandro Valverde's shoulders as the Spaniard of the Caisse d'Epargne team finished safe in the main bunch.

"I knew it was a sprint that could suit me but it was hard, with the wind and this turn towards the end," said Hushovd, who had his first Tour stage win in Bourg en Bresse in 2002.

"Tactically, the team did a good job with Jimmy (Engoulvent) and William (Bonnet)," said team manager Roger Legeay.

Valverde, who will wear the yellow jersey for Monday's third stage over 208 kms from St Malo to Nantes, said: "It was nice to wear it today, people were shouting my name all the way long."

Asked whether he could have won the stage, the 28-year-old Spaniard, one of the Tour's leading contenders, added: "No. This stage was more for the pure sprinters, because there was a flat part after the final ascent."  Continued...