July 20, 2005 – The 37th edition of the Tour de l’Abitibi is only two days old and already Éric Boily of Quebec, is the undisputed leader finishing first in the today’s criterium.

Boily, a member of Team Canada, waited until the last lap to take the lead in the criterium held on the streets of Val-d’Or. He crossed the finish line just ahead of Team France’s Mathieu Bernaudeau and Espoirs de Laval’s Michael Joanisse.

The pack completed the 25 laps in 1 hour, 21 minutes 58 seconds at an average spied of 40.16 km/hr. The criterium was uneventful but for a short break away after 20 laps with three riders, Bernaudeau, and American’s Mick Wickman and Matt Brandt.

Boily held on to the leader’s Brown Jersey that he won the day before at yesterday’s Prologue, a presentation event. He held on to the leader’s jersey this morning by finishing first as a member of Team Canada, wo came first in the Stage 1 TTT.

The man to beat tomorrow will be Boily. Stage 3, Rouyn-Noranda to Val-d’Or, covers a distance of 115.9 kilometers.

Stage1: Team Time Trial
1. Canada, 22:55
2. Etats-Unis, 23:26
3. Hot Tubes, 24:31
4. Coast to Coast, 24:41
5. Colombie-Britanique, 24:43
6. Belgique VC Ardennes, 24:46
7. Suède, 24:46
8. France Pôle Espoirs, 24:50
9. Alberta, 24:50
10. Espoirs de Laval, 24:51

Stage 2: Criterium
1. Éric Boily (Canada), 1:21:58
2. Matthieu Bernaudeau (France Pôle Espoirs)
3. Bryan Naulleau France РP̫le Espoirs Hydro-Qu̩bec
4. Reona Sumi (Japon)
5. Kevin Reza (France Pôle Espoirts)
6. Sean Walsh (Alberta)
7. Guy East (United-States)
8. Daniel Holloway (United-States)
9. Jonathan Bertrand (Belgique VC Ardennes)
10. Philipp Belgique Tomasso (V.C. Ardennes Sûreté du Québec)

Overall After Two Stages

1. Éric Boily (Canada), 1:44:47
2. David Veilleux (Canada), at 0:06
3. Mark Hinnen (Canada)
4. Brooke Boocock (Canada), both s.t.
5. Guy East (États-Unis), 0:26
6. Ulrich De Young (Etats-Unis)
7. Cody O’Rielly (États-Unis), both s.t.
8. Clovis Auger (Canada), 0:34
9. Alex Boyd (Hot Tubes), 0:36
10. Ryan Keels (Hot Tubes), s.t.