Stage 2: McEwen

Well, how typical. This could have been any random flat stage from any grand tour in the past couple of years. There was a breakaway which was slowly reeled back into the pack. Petacchi's team then drove the peleton to the finish line, only to have McEwen eschew his team and ride Petacchi's wheel the whole way in, slingshot around him in the final 100 meters, and win the stage.

Robbie McEwen is a badass. He don't need no stinkin' support team. Pollack and Bettini also passed up Petacchi on that final sprint, announcing their presence in the sprinter's competition as well. But McEwen looks like he's on perfect form and is going to stalk the hell out of Petacchi.

Savoldelli holds on to his overall lead, which holds at :11. He's not going to be dumb enough to try and hold on to this lead during these flat stages, so it's only a matter of time before someone else gets to wear the maglia rosa for awhile. But since I didn't chime in one the prologue (or Stage 1, whatever they are calling it): wow. That was almost Armstrong-esque.

Two straight days, the biggest contender for a jersey has announced their presence with authority. Nuke LaLoosh would be proud.