Tour de France: A perfect finish saw Britain's Mark Cavendish win the second stage of the 2009 Tour de France from Monaco to Brignoles to further his standing as cycling's leading sprinter. Ireland's Nicolas Roche, making his Tour de France debut, finished a highly creditable eighth.
Cavendish, of Team Columbia, benefited from the efforts of his team mates on the 187 kms ride from Monaco to Brignolles to win ahead of American Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Slipstream. France's Romain Feillu was third.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after finishing in the peloton.
Finland’ Jussi Veikkanen, Dutchman Stef Clement and Frenchmen Stephane Auge and Cyril Dessel broke away after the first climb of the day and opened a gap of five minutes 20 seconds.
Cancellara's Saxo Bank team, however, united with Team Columbia and stepped up a gear in front of the peloton after the Col d'Ange.
Cavendish never looked back over the final metres to take his fifth Tour stage win.
American Lance Armstrong, back on the saddle after 3-1/2 years in retirement, remained 10th overall after riding in the peloton all day.