Double delight for Larsson

Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson won stage two of the Tour du Limousin to move top of the general classification.

Climbers set for key stage on Thursday

Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson won stage two of the Tour du Limousin to move top of the general classification. The Swede, winner of the closing time trial at this year's Giro d'Italia, clocked 53 minutes and 30 seconds in the relatively flat 45.1 kilometres individual time trial from Saint Amand-Montrond. That saw him win by 20 seconds from Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank), with Nicolas Vogondy (Bbox - Bouygues) a further 23 seconds back in third and that trio also fill the first three places in the overall standings. "I knew that with the length of the time trial I was one of the favourites today," said Larsson afterwards. "Now I want to keep the jersey even though I know tomorrow's stage will be harder." Thursday's penultimate stage should see the climbers come to the fore as the riders cover 191.5km from Uzerche to the uphill finish at Mansac. Team Sky look well placed with two riders in the top 10 in the shape of Thomas Löfkvist and Dario Cioni, who were ninth and tenth respectively on stage two and occupy eighth and ninth on the GC. Stage two result: 1 - Gustav Larsson - (SWE) - Saxo Bank - (53:30)
2 - Sebastian Langeveld - (NED) - Rabobank - (+20)
3 - Nicolas Vogondy - (FRA) - Bbox-Bouygues - (+43)
4 - Sylvain Chavanel - (FRA) - Quick-Step - (+50)
5 - László Bodrogi - (FRA) - Katyusha - (+59)
6 - Rein Taaramäe - (EST) - Cofidis - (+1:21)
7 - Michael Mørkøv - (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+1:23)
8 - Christophe Moreau - (FRA) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+1:31)
9 - Thomas Löfkvist - (SWE) - Team Sky - (+1:33)
10 - Dario Cioni - (ITA) - Team Sky - (+1:45)
Overall standings after stage two: 1 - Gustav Larsson - (SWE) - Saxo Bank - (5:36:19)
2 - Sebastian Langeveld - (NED) - Rabobank - (+20)
3 - Nicolas Vogondy - (FRA) - Bbox-Bouygues - (+43)
4 - Sylvain Chavanel - (FRA) - Quick-Step - (+50)
5 - Michael Mørkøv - (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+1:19)
6 - Rein Taaramäe - (EST) - Cofidis - (+1:21)
7 - Christophe Moreau - (FRA) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+1:31)
8 - Thomas Löfkvist - (SWE) - Team Sky - (+1:33)
9 - Dario Cioni - (ITA) - Team Sky - (+1:45)
10 - José Joaquín Rojas - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+1:51)