Stage 2 - Dunkirk to Ghent (168.5km)
COURSE: Thisstage into Belgium makes a giant “S” across the flat plains of Flanderspassing through the hometowns of past champions Freddy Maertens, JohanMuseeuw, Roger De Vlaeminck and Walter Godefroot. It's likely to be veryfast, similar to the one from Calais to Antwerp won by homeboy Marc Wautersin 2002.
The wind will be a factor, like it is in the Ghent-Wevelgem springclassic, so the pack might split and could favor the development of a fast-moving breakaway.
HISTORY: Amazingly, it has beenalmost a half-century since a Tour stage finished in Ghent, which is oneof the centers of Belgian bike racing. There have been only two others.On stage 1 from Brussels in 1958, French sprinter André Darrigadetook the win ahead of breakaway companions Jos Hoevenaers and Joseph Planckaertof Belgium, almost two minutes ahead of the pack. Stage 2, in 1951, fromReims, was won in a solo break by Luxembourger Bim Diedrich almost fourminutes ahead of the field.
FAVORITES: Should history repeat itself and a breakaway develop look for local riders like Nick Nuyens (Cofidis), Leif Hoste (Predictor-Lotto) or Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) to succeed. Otherwise, super sprinters Boonen, McEwen and Hushovd should contest the win on a boulevard near Ghent’s old indoor velodrome, while the wild cards are Bennati, Cavendish and Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner).
