NAMUR, Belgium, July 5 (UPI) -- Australian Robbie McEwen burst clear of his challengers in the finishing straight to claim the second stage of the Tour de France on Monday.
American Lance Armstrong, who is seeking his record sixth straight Tour victory, finished 85th in the stage and is fourth overall.
McEwen, a Lotto-Domo rider, took advantage of a skirmish behind him to claim the victory in 4 hours, 18 minutes, 39 seconds with Norwegian Thor Hushovd, competing for Credit Agricole, finishing second.
Jean-Patrick Nazon of France was third for AG2R Prevoyance.
Hushovd holds the overall leader's yellow jersey -- the first Norwegian to do so -- after this 197-kilometer, predominantly Belgian stage, which began in Charleroi and finished in Namur, passing through France in the mid-section of the race.
Hushovd has an eight-second lead over Fabian Cancellara, a Swiss rider who held the yellow jersey at the start of the stage.
