May 8 2003 – CSC's run of the races continued today with Lars Michaelsen (CSC) winning the 200.9 k stage, outsprinting Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2r-Prevoyance) and Dutchman Rudi Kemna (BankGiroLoterij Cycling). CSC has had a fantastic run on Cervelo bikes, with Tyler Hamilton taking Liege-Bastogne-Liege last week, followed by the overall of the Tour of Romandie.

Canada's Michael Barry (USPS) finished comfortably in the pack, after testing his legs in a few moves.”The race went like crazy from the gun, attack after attack. Nothing got away and we ended up in a finishing in a group sprint,” Barry said, “Attacks went relentlessly until we got to the 30 km to go mark when Delatour went to the front to get things in control. The sprinters' teams took over with about 15 km to go. Tomorrow we are faced with another flat, fast stage.”

Tomorrow's race is set to be the same, Barry reckons, “The weekend stages will decide the race. Saturday's race is hilly on a circuit and Sunday is a double day with a TT in the morning.”

Stage 2: 200.9k

1. Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 4.36.55
(43.52 km/h)
2. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance
3. Rudi Kemna (Ned) BankGiroLoterij Cycling Team
4. Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
6. James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
7. Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
8. Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère
9. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon
10. Allan Bo Andresen (Den) Team fakta
—
103 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal/ Berry Floor

Overall:
1. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 8.52.13
2. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance 0.06
3. Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 2.11
4. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance 2.15
5. Rudi Kemna (Ned) BankGiroLoterij Cycling Team 2.17
6. Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
7. James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 2.18
8. Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
9. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
10. Benoît Joachim (Lux) US Postal /Berry Floor 2.19
—
57. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal /Berry Floor