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Tour de Pologne: Brown takes second stage

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10.09.2007/ Rabobank's Graeme Bown won todays second stage of the Tour de Pologne. Brown also leads the general classification.

Copyright Langteam
(picture: Langteam)

On Monday, Graeme Brown's (Rabobank) high-level power sprint in the Tour de Polgne caused an elated mood in the Rabobank squad. The Australian rider had not won in a few months and that had caused a small self-confidence crisis with the two-time Olympic champion. Everything came back in Poland, however. Brown did not give Wouter Weylandt (Quickstep) any chance in a bunch sprint in which other top-notch sprinters like Napolitano (Lampre) , Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) and Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) were also left behind.

"The boys are a little elated," laughed Rabobank sports director Frans Maassen when he and his riders and other attendants reached the luxurious hotel after the finish. "But what did you expect? Our tour here is already a success. I think we can win some more now that the pressure is off."

Maassen was also very happy for his sprinter, who had had some serious doubts lately. "I actually felt better in the Eneco Tour than I did here but I could not pull it off there. And now I did here. I am very happy," said Brown who, together with team mate and bosom friend Mathew Hayman and the Australian track selection, trained on a cycling track in Germany last week and that was a 'perfect choice' according to Maassen. "I think it benefited his speed. He was certainly unbeatable today."

In the final seven hundred meters, Brown was delivered perfectly by Mathew Hayman, after which he himself finished the job cleanly and powerfully. Brown survived the dangerous finale, which included a 180-degree turn a few hundred meters from the finish, without sustaining any damage. "We can now defend the jersey with our complete team on Tuesday. Our morale is high, but everyone will understand that," concluded Maassen. 

Results
 
Stage 2
 
1. Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank       4 h 50:46.
2. Wouter Weylandt (BEL)  Quickstep                 00.00.00
3. Said Haddou (FRA)   Bouygues Telecom                    00.00.00  
4. David Kopp (GER)        Gerolsteiner               00.00.00
5. José Joaquín Rojas (ESP)    Caisse d'Epargne           00.00.00   6. Murilo Fischer (BRE)         Liquigas          00.00.00
7. Sébastien Hinault (FRA)     Credit Agricole             00.00.00
8. Blazej Janiaczyk (POL)  Intel-Action               00.00.00
9. Jon Bru (ESP)                        00.00.00
10. Danilo Napolitano (ITA)                00.00.00
 
General Classification after stage 2
 
1. Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank       4 h 50:36.
2. Wouter Weylandt (BEL)  Quickstep                 + 03.
3. Said Haddou (FRA)    Bouygues Telecom                     06.
4. Danilo Napolitano (ITA)    Lampre           
5. Fabian Wegmann (GER)    Gerolsteiner              08.
6. David Kopp (GER)          Gerolsteiner              10.
7. José Joaquín Rojas (ESP)        Caisse d'Epargne                 
8. Murilo Fischer (BRE)            Liquigas        
9. Sébastien Hinault (FRA)      Credit Agricole       
10. Blazej Janiaczyk (POL)     Intel-Action

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