Emmanuel Magnien (Brioches La Boulangere) has won Stage 2 of the Tour of the Mediterranean. The Frenchman took a bunch sprint to win the 109-km ride from Menton to Le Cannet in 2:39:22. Filippo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo) finished second, and Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) finished third. Stage 1 winner Bram De Groot (Rabobank) remains the overall leader.

The stage featured two first category climbs (La Turbie and Asprement) and one second category ascent (Vence) in the first 60 km. Rabobank and Quick Step drove the peloton over the climbs and split the field into a 43-rider lead group and a much larger bunch that would finish the day 18 minutes behind Magnien.

As the race approached the uphill run to the finish, a number of sorties occurred. The most notable one was that of Sebastien Joly (Jean Delatour) and Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo). Petito dropped Joly and forged ahead alone, but the peloton, led by Brioches La Boulangere, La Francaise des Jeux.com, and Credit Agricole, reeled in the Italian in the last five km.

With a little more than a km left, Sylvain Chavanel (Brioches La Boulangere) attacked. The bunch reeled him in with 750 m left. The stage came down to a sprint, which Magnien won.

In the overall, De Groot leads Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) by 0:05 and Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) by 0:07. Tomorrow's stage will be crucial. The two-stage day will begin with a 60-km road race from Seillans to La Motte and will conclude with a 100-km ride from La Motte to Mont Faron. Will De Groot remain in the lead? Check in at http://www.roadcycling.com/ and find out!