McEwen sprints to stage victory

Cycling:  Norwegian Thor Hushovd reclaimed the yellow jersey after Australian Robbie McEwen outsprinted world champion Tom Boonen…

Cycling:  Norwegian Thor Hushovd reclaimed the yellow jersey after Australian Robbie McEwen outsprinted world champion Tom Boonen to win the second stage of the Tour de France today.

McEwen claimed a ninth career stage victory by beating Boonen in a mass finish to the 228.5km stage from Obernai to Esch-sur-Alzette after a crash allowed Matthias Kessler to be caught in the closing stages.

Hushovd finished third to take the leader's jersey from American George Hincapie after narrowly avoiding a high-speed crash when his left foot popped out of the pedal in the closing stages.

Boonen and Hushovd had earlier battled it out for intermediate sprint points and time bonuses on a long hot day to Luxembourg.

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McEwen leads Hushovd and Boonen in the race for the sprinters' green jersey.