CHAUFFAILLES, France, 8 June 2005 — American George Hincapie’s race lead at the Dauphine Libere stage race came to an end after pocket-sized Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin sprinted to victory in the second stage here yesterday.

Dumoulin — whose international fame has largely been confined to him being the smallest rider on the Tour de France each year - rose high above three of his fellow breakaway companions on the tricky 187km stage from Givors to here to claim his first victory in over a year having spent half of it injured.

His efforts left him with the stage win and the race leader’s jersey and he now has a 20-sec lead over compatriot Frederic Finot ahead of today’s 47km time trial in nearby Roanne.

“It’s my biggest victory in a year and I’m almost lost for words,” said Dumoulin, who at 1.59 meters tall admitted he has learned to live with jibes right through school and in the amateur cycling ranks.

Dumoulin, who had to abandon the Tour de France last year with a serious elbow injury after he crashed when a stray dog walked across the road, easily held off Anthony Charteau of Bouygues Telecom raising his arms in the air in triumph.

Finot, of La Francaise des Jeux, finished third with another Frenchman, Frederic Bessy of Cofidis, in fourth.

The four had managed to escape from the peloton after only a few kilometers of racing, and despite the best efforts of the sprinters’ teams to close a gap which had grown to 20 minutes, it proved too little too late.

South African Robert Hunter held off Norwegian champion Thor Hushovd to claim fifth place as Dumoulin’s group ended a 180km breakaway in style.

Discovery Channel’s Hincapie, who pulled on the leader’s yellow jersey after winning Sunday’s prologue, finished just behind at 3:16 with his team leader Lance Armstrong in tow.

Armstrong, who is expected to be among the favorites for today’s 47 km race against the clock, is using the race as preparation for his bid to win a seventh consecutive yellow jersey in July’s Tour de France.

Meanwhile Dumoulin had tears in his eyes as he celebrated victory on what is effectively home soil.