Hushovd claims victory

Thor Hushovd has Tour de France ambitions

Norway's Thor Hushovd won the second stage of the Dauphine Libere, between Bollene and Vienne on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old beat home Belarus' Alexandre Usov, while Australian Baden Cooke was third.

Spaniard Iban Mayo of Euskaltel retained the overall leader's blue and gold jersey.

Hushovd said his main ambition was to win the points winner's green jersey in next month's Tour de France, though he will have to rely on Australian team-mate and fellow sprint specialist Stuart O'Grady agreeing to that.

"If things are going well for me I hope that O'Grady will be understanding and cooperative," he said.

The stage was dominated by charges from Christophe Edaleine and Maryan Hary.

Both took off at the 8km mark but were ultimately caught wanting.

Mayo said he was hoping to not lose too much time to quadruple Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong in Wednesday's time-trial.

"I don't want to lose over a minute to Armstrong," said Mayo, who holds a slender 11-second lead over the Texan.

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Dauphine Libere stage two results:

1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 4hr 23min 42sec
2. Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak
3. Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com
4. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
5. Plamen Stoianov (Bulg) BigMat-Auber 93
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour
7. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis
8. Janek Tombak (Est) Cofidis
9. Angelo Furlan (Ita) Alessio
10. Andy Flickinger (Fra) AG2r Prevoyance (all same time)

Selected:

53. David Millar (Gbr) (same time) Leading overall standings:

1. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel 9hr 11min 41sec
2. David Millar (Gbr) Cofidis at 5sec
3. Bradley McGee (Aus) FDJeux.com 10
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 11
5. Pedro Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel 14
6. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Ibanesto.com 15
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank same time
8. Pablo Lastras (Spa) Ibanesto.com 18
9. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 19
10. Laurent Brochard (Fra) AG2r Prevoyance 24