Kirsipuu sprints to Tour stage win
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CHARLEROI, Belgium -- Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu won the first stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish at the end of a 202.5-kilometer ride from Liege to Charleroi.
The AGR2 rider finished ahead of Australian Robbie McEwen of the Lotto team and Credit Agricole's Norwegian Thor Hushovd.
"The sprint was incredible for me," said Kirsipuu. "I am really really happy." Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, retained the leader's yellow jersey.
He won Saturday's prologue stage and strengthened his grip on the lead after gaining an eight-second bonus in one of the intermediate sprints.
The main contenders were content to stay out of trouble in wet and teacherous conditions. American Lance Armstrong, chasing a record sixth straight Tour win, finished with the peloton and trails Cancellara by 10 seconds.
There were several crashes, including an early one involving Italian sprint star Mario Cipollini and Spain's Oscar Sevilla. Both riders were able to continue although Sevilla needed a new bike.
The rolling course enabled a group of five riders led by Jens Voigt to break away, building a lead of three minutes 45 seconds befoer the peloton took up the chase.
