MONTARGIS, France, 9 March 2004 — Spain’s Pedro Horillo of the Quick Step-Davitamon team outsprinted the breakaway group to snatch victory in the 166.5 km second stage of the Paris-Nice race from Chaville to Montargis yesterday.
Horillo launched his finishing sprint about 300 meters from the line to beat Switzerland’s Beat Zberg of the Gerolsteiner team and Italy’s Michele Bartoli of the CSC team.
Germany’s Jorg Jaksche, who won Sunday’s first stage, retains the overall leader’s yellow jersey with six seconds to spare over Italy’s Davide Rebellin of the Gerolsteiner team.
American Bobby Julich of the CSC team is third in the overall standings, 18 seconds adrift.Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazahkstan, who came home five minutes and 15 seconds behind Horillo, has lost every chance to clinch a third overall win in as many years.
The third stage, which takes the riders from La Chapelle Saint Ursin and Roanne over 227.5 kms today, should favor the sprinters.
Armstrong to Ride France’s Dauphine Libere
In Paris, Lance Armstrong will ride in the Dauphine Libere stage race from June 5-12, organizers said yesterday, as the American prepares his bid for a record sixth Tour de France title.
Armstrong, who had not been expected to take part, decided to sign up because this year’s edition of the race in the Rhone-Alpes region of southeast France includes a time trial up Mont Ventoux.
“There is a deciding factor: the organizers have scheduled a time trial in Mont Ventoux,” said Armstrong.
