Bennati blasts past rivals

The second stage, raced in the afternoon after Caisse D'Epargne won the opening team time trial on Wednesday morning, took the peloton 107 kilometres from Gruissan to Agde that witnessed several crashes toward the end of the stage.

"There was rain and side winds," the 26 year-old told La Gazzetta dello Sport after his win. "In front only remained 25 to 30 of us. At two and a half kilometres to go there was a left curve. [Alessandro] Ballan kept pulling, and he slid a little bit; I was afraid and crashed."

"I got back up and put my head down. At 800 metres to go I rejoined and then Ballan worked extremely hard to lead me out for the sprint."

Ballan led his Lampre team-mate out perfectly after the series of crashes allowed a group of 12 men to break-away toward the finish line.

Ballan finished fifth behind Russian Evgeni Petrov (Tinkoff) in the main group of 20 riders at six seconds behind Bennati.

Spain's 2003 world champion Istarloa, now riding for Milram, finished third at four seconds in back of Bennati and two seconds behind Petito.

Caisse d'Epargne's Iván Gutiérrez retained the yellow leader's jersey from the morning.

Thursday's third stage is a 158-km trip from St Cannat to Marseille.