French dominate Stage 2 of Dauphine

The pack rides during the second stage of the 57th Dauphine Libere cycling race, between Givors and Chauffaille, on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Samuel Dumoulin won Tuesday's second stage at the Dauphine Libere, leading a French sweep of the podium places, while six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong finished in the chasing pack.

Dumoulin headed a group of four French riders which broke away after about 40km and held the lead over the remainder of the 187km trek from Givors to Chauffailles.

In a dash to the finish line, Dumoulin edged Anthony Charteau and third-placed Frederic Finot, finishing in 4 hours, 47 minutes, 6 seconds. Frederic Bessy finished fourth in the same time.

"It's the best day of my life. I had tingling sensations in my legs this morning," Dumoulin said. "I knew it would be a good day from the start. The only thing I was scared of was not doing well in front of my fans."

None of the chasing pack, which finished 3:16 behind, could keep pace with the French quartet.

"It was hard out there today," said Armstrong, who finished 46th.

The leaders maintained such a frenetic pace that the peloton was 15 minutes behind at the 112km mark.