Elia Viviani of Cannondale won the second stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné into Oyonnax today, after a hilly parcours had thinned the main field but failed to ship out the sprinters, who fought out the stage win. Green jersey Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma – Quickstep) was second, and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack – Leopard) third.

On a day with six categorised climbs the pace was high at the start, with a stable break not forming until nearly an hour in. Thomas Damuseau (Argos – Shimano) went out for another crack at a win from the front, with José Mendes (NetApp – Endura), Rudy Molard (Cofidis) and Arnaud Gérard (Bretagne – Seche Environment) for company. Europcar, holding the race lead with David Veilleux, controlled the pace to ensure that the quartet were kept on a fairly tight rein.

The constant up and down parcours took its toll on some of the riders hoping to contest a sprint including Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) and Thor Hushovd (BMC) distanced over the category 2 côte de Communal. With the break being reeled in Rudy Molard (Cofidis) made a break for freedom with 30km to go but he was only able to stay away for half of the remaining distance. Another Cofidis rider, Rein Taaramae, attempted to break free on the final descent into Oyonnax but his challenge faded under the flamme rouge and it was down to the sprinters to contest the win. Viviani took a lead-out from Meersman and came round him easily in the last 50 metres to take the stage win, with Gallopin taking the last podium slot.

David Veilleux stays in leader's jersey after finishing in the front group, with Meersman still second and Gallopin third. Meersman retains the points jersey, with Damuseau now top of the climbers competition. Gallopin wears the young rider's jersey.

Stage standing

1.   VIVIANI Elia                  CANNONDALE                       4h 39' 15"  
2.   MEERSMAN Gianni               OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP          st
3.   GALLOPIN Tony                 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD               st
4.   JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt   TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO               st
5.   GESLIN Anthony                FDJ                              st
6.   FONSECA Armindo               BRETAGNE - SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT   st
7.   TANKINK Bram                  BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM          st
8.   BARGUIL WARREN                TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO               st
9.   FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio  VACANSOLEIL-DCM                  st
10.  SULZBERGER Wesley             ORICA GREENEDGE                  st
11.  THOMAS Geraint                SKY PROCYCLING                   st
12.  MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel       KATUSHA TEAM                     st
13.  VALVERDE Alejandro            MOVISTAR TEAM                    st
14.  VOSS Paul                     TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA               st
15.  MATE MARDONES Luis Angel      COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS       st
16.  ROHREGGER Thomas              RADIOSHACK LEOPARD               st
17.  KENNAUGH Peter                SKY PROCYCLING                   st
18.  NERZ Dominik                  BMC RACING TEAM                  st
19.  FUGLSANG Jakob                ASTANA PRO TEAM                  st
20.  BODNAR Maciej                 CANNONDALE                       st

Overall standing

1.   VEILLEUX David       TEAM EUROPCAR             7h 56' 50"  
2.   MEERSMAN Gianni      OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP    + 01' 56"
3.   GALLOPIN Tony        RADIOSHACK LEOPARD         + 01' 57"
4.   BARGUIL WARREN       TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO         + 01' 57"
5.   VALVERDE Alejandro   MOVISTAR TEAM              + 01' 57"
6.   FUGLSANG Jakob       ASTANA PRO TEAM            + 01' 57"
7.   FROOME Christopher   SKY PROCYCLING             + 01' 57"
8.   PORTE Richie         SKY PROCYCLING             + 01' 57"
9.   MADRAZO Angel        MOVISTAR TEAM              + 01' 57"
10.  THOMAS Geraint       SKY PROCYCLING             + 01' 57"