Jaan Kirsipuu wins first stage of Tour de France; Armstrong plays it safe

NAMUR, Belgium (AP) - Shot like a rocket from the stampeding pack, Robbie McEwen of Australia sprinted to victory Monday in a crash-filled second stage of the Tour de France. <br/><br/>Lance Armstrong,

Sunday, July 4th 2004, 11:51 am

By: News On 6

NAMUR, Belgium (AP) - Shot like a rocket from the stampeding pack, Robbie McEwen of Australia sprinted to victory Monday in a crash-filled second stage of the Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong, playing it safe, kept his drive for a record sixth Tour victory on track by placing comfortably down the field, in 85th place. Rivals aiming to dethrone the five-time champion also hung back from the mad dash by sprinters at the front. Armstrong's biggest threat, 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich, finished 38th, in the same time as the Texan.