In short
| Stage winner | Gert STEEGMANS |
 (yellow jersey) |
Gert STEEGMANS |
 (green jersey) |
Gert STEEGMANS |
 (white jersey) |
Jérémy ROY |
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
|
• Individual time • Individual points • Best young • Best team |
|
| Overall |
|
• Individual time• Individual points • Best young • Best team |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Friday 12 May | 186.5 km |
| Creil > PĂ©ronne | ||
| 2 | Saturday 13 May | 186.5 km |
| Nesle > Marle | ||
| 3 | Sunday 14 May | 98.5 km |
| Saint-Gobain > Nogent-sur-Oise | ||
| 4 | Sunday 14 May | 88 km |
| Villers-Saint-Paul > Creil | ||
| Total | 559.5 km | |
The race
Saturday 13 May 2006| stage 2 | Nesle > Marle - 186.5 km |  |
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The film of the stage
Steegmans only just!
The 129 remaining riders started the day’s second stage in Nesle at 12:32. At kilometre 5, Agnolutto (AGR), Scheirlinckx (JAR) and Ojavee (KCT) broke away from the pack. While Ojavee failed to keep up with his companions, Agnolutto and Scheirlinckx continued their efforts. Both men had a maximum 30” lead but were eventually caught at kilometre 30. The following moments featured quite a few attacks and at kilometre 31, Coutouly (AGR) took off, followed at 10” by Boucher (UNI). But this attempt again proved to be vain and the riders were caught at kilometre 33. It was then Roy’s (FDJ) turn to give it a go followed by Bergès (AGR) and Ten Dam (Uni). Bergés and Ten Dam managed to catch up with the race leader at kilometre 40 while the pack remained 30” adrift.
The three men started working together and increased their lead. At kilometre 46, their advantage started growing from 2’10’’ to 3’20’’ at the exit of Nauroy (km 48) and even 3’50’’ at kilometre 52. At the first intermediate sprint of the day in Premont (km 61,5), Roy took off and beat Bergès and Ten Dam. Behind, the pack was 5’10’’ off the leading pace. The gap carried on growing. At kilometre 84, it reached 6’ and then 6’30’’ in Boue (km 87) and eventually 7’50’’ just outside Leschelle (km 101).
The Bouygues Telecom riders including their yellow jersey holder Rony Martias started the chase in the front positions of the pack. The gap therefore started dropping but the escapees still enjoyed a 6’30’’ lead while entering the feeding zone. In Autreppes (km 114), the pack moved closer, 5’15’’ from the leading men and then down to 4’15’’ in Vigneux-Hocquet (km 140.5). Moving closer to the first passage on the finish line in Marle (km 161,5), the gap was of 3’30’’. Heading the pack were still the Bouygues Telecom riders helped out by men from the Bretagne-Jean-Floc’h team.
On the sprint line, Bergès beat Ten Dam and Roy. But despite working perfectly together, the leaders just couldn’t prevent the pack from moving closer (2’). Roy then failed to remain in the front group and was dropped by his breakaway companions. With 10 kilometres to go, Berges suffered a fall. Ten Dam was forced to carry on alone. The pace of the pack continued increasing. The main field broke up into several groups with yellow jersey Rony Martias failing to be in the leading group.
With 5 kilometres to go, Ten Dam kept a minute’s advantage and a slim hope to conquer victory. In the last kilometre, Ten Dam however saw the pack move closer with only 15” separating the front man from the hungry bunch of chasers. The Belgian was eventually caught in the first few metres of the final uphill sprint. After a powerful effort, Steegmans (DVL) only just managed to beat Hinault (CA) while a fall hit several following riders. Other then stage success, the Davitamon-Lotto sprinter captured the overall leader’s yellow jersey.