Mark Cavendish Wins Stage 2 Of The Tour De France

BRIGNOLES-FRANCE - Mark Cavendish, from the United Kingdom, won the second stage of the 2009 Tour De France yesterday in a race that travelled from the Casino in Monte-Carlo to finish up 187 kms (116.9 miles) later in the medieval village of Brignoles in France. Cavendish, riding for the Columbia-Highroad professional cycling team, won the race in 4 hours 30 minutes and 2 seconds.

It was a sprint to the finish in Brignoles, as Cavendish and Tylar Farrar of the Garman-Slipstream team were within a bicycle length of each other as they neared the finish. Cavendish who took the breakaway was able to maintain the power to cross the finish line in the lead and win the race. Third place was taken by Romain Feillu of France. theirEarth took this photo of Mark Cavendish at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2009 Tour De France last Thursday and during the presentation of his Columbia-Highroad professional cycling team.

The Second Stage of the Tour started with a steep climb out of Monaco and then onwards through the village of La Turbie in France, which had the riders climbing up to 491 metres. Next it was a steep descent into Nice followed by a climb up to the famous perfume village of Grasse, all the while heading towards the west within France. After Grasse, it was a series of approximately eight climbs and descents of between 40 and 100 metres over a distance of about 115 km followed at the end by 10 km's of descent into the village of Brignoles.

Cavendish said that he was very proud to be wearing the Tour De France official Green Jersey yesterday, which identified him as the fastest sprinter in the field of riders. Mark Cavendish rides the Columbia-Highroad team spec racing bike, which is a Scott designed Pro frame with Shimano groupset (shifters, derailleurs, brakes, brake levers, hubs, crankset, and chain) and the wheels on the bike are also the Shimano brand.

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