Irish rider Mark Scanlon continues to show good form on his Tour de France debut and is 36th overall after today's 197kilometre stage two race from Charleroi to Namur.
The Sligoman formed part of a six-man breakaway group in the early stages and stayed clear of the pack for the majority of the stage. He also finished second and third in two of the bonus sprints.
The breakaway group were caught 25km from the finish but the time Scanlon gained in the sprints ensured his 36th placing overall.
The 23-year-old held his own in the breakaway group and did his share of the work and on this performance the future looks bright for the first Irish racer to compete in the race since Stephen Roche, winner in 1987, when he retired in 1993.
Australian Robbie McEwen won the stage as defending champion Lance Armstrong had another quiet day. The American, bidding for an unprecedented sixth victory, warned his rivals with a brilliant performance in the prologue and is expected to keep comfortably hidden inside the main bunch until Wednesday's team time trial.
Thor Hushovd, third in Charleroi the day before, was second and seized the overall Tour lead, becoming the first Norwegian in the 101 years of the event to wear the coveted yellow jersey.
France's Jean-Patrick Nazon was third in the final sprint, marred by a spectacular crash just 20 metres from the finish involving Norwegian Kurt-Asle Arvesen and France's Jimmy Casper.
Hushovd leads Swiss Fabian Cancellara by eight seconds with McEwen third overall, 17 seconds behind. Armstrong is fourth, a further second adrift.